Smith, Joe (actually, Joseph C)

Smith, Joe (actually, Joseph C. ), jazz trumpeter; b. Ripley, Ohio, June 28, 1902; d. N.Y, Dec. 2, 1937. Brother of Russell T. Smith. Joe Smith is best known for his sensitive work with Fletcher Henderson and Bessie Smith in the 1920s. His father was Luke Smith Sr., who led a big brass band in Cincinnati. Smith had six brothers, all trumpet players; the most famous of which was Russell T. Smith; another brother, Luke Jr., died in 1936; two others, George and Charlie, were also professional musicians. A cousin, Clarence Smith, played trumpet with Andy Kirk for a while. Joe was originally taught by his father, gigged with local bands, then left town with a traveling fair. Stranded in Pittsburgh, he carved a unique wooden trumpet mouthpiece from a used cotton spool; for some years afterwards he used this occasionally for special effects. Around 1920, he traveled to N.Y. He then returned to Pittsburgh before traveling to Chicago to join the Black Swan Jazz Masters (directed by Fletcher Henderson). He toured accompanying Ethel Waters from January–July 1922, and then returned briefly to N.Y. A few weeks later, he went out on tour with Mamie Smith’s Jazz Hounds, working with her through early 1923, including bookings in Calif. By late 1923, he was back in N.Y., working with various bands and doing extensive gigging and recording sessions (some with Fletcher Henderson). In March 1924, Smith directed the band for the Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake revue In Bamville and remained with this show (later renamed The Chocolate Dandies) until November 1924. When the revue began touring, Joe remained in N.Y.; in April 1925, he joined Fletcher Henderson on a full-time basis, remaining with the band until October 1928; during this period, he also recorded with many blues singers, notably Bessie Smith. He continued to work with various leaders through the early 1930s, including several stints with McKinney’s Cotton Pickers (summer 1929–November 1930; late 1931–early 1932). In early 1933, he was working out of Kansas City, where his health began to fail. Fletcher Henderson rehired him that year, but Smith was unable to play, and returned with Henderson to N.Y, where he was immediately hospitalized, suffering from the symptoms of syphilis. He succumbed to the disease in 1937.

—John Chilton , Who’s Who of Jazz/Lewis Porter