Smith, Willie (actually, William McLeish)

Smith, Willie (actually, William McLeish), jazz alto and baritone saxophonist, clarinetist, singer, composer; b. Charleston, S.C., Nov. 25, 1910; d. Los Angeles, Calif., March 7, 1967. He was a brilliant soloist. He began on clarinet at age 12; two years later, he played at local concerts accompanied by his sister on piano. He played in the Boston Serenaders in Memphis (c. 1926). He studied at the Case Technical Coll. before attending Fisk Univ. in Nashville, Term. In 1927 he worked in Belmar, N.J., with the Betty Conner Quartet during his summer vacation. While at Fisk, he first met Jimmie Lunceford; after majoring in chemistry, he left the college to join Lunceford in Memphis (summer 1929). Smith played alto sax, wrote arrangements (including an innovative “Mood Indigo”), and sang in the vocal trio. He remained with Lunceford until the summer of 1942, then joined Charlie Spivak. In April 1943 he left Spivak to serve as a musical instructor in the U.S. Navy. After his release in late 1944, he joined Harry James, remaining with him until March 1951 (except for a brief absence in summer 1947). He worked with Duke Ellington for a year, beginning in March 1951. Smith was reportedly criticized for his light skin color. He left in spring 1952 to join Billy May’s Orch. In early 1953 he toured Europe with Jazz at the Philharmonic, then did a brief tour in the Benny Goodman All-star Band (directed for most of the tour by Gene Krupa). Smith returned to Calif., did brief tours with Billy May, then led his own band at the Oasis Club, Los Angeles. He rejoined Harry James in spring 1954, remaining with him until summer 1963; during this period he also worked regularly with Billy May and other West Coast studio orchestras. After a long period of ill health, Smith joined Johnny Catron’s Band in Los Angeles (autumn 1964), worked with Johnny Rivers in Las Vegas during the following year, then returned to studio work. In late 1966 Smith played in N.Y. in a big band specially formed by Charlie Barnet. The last few weeks of his life were spent in the Veterans’ Administration Hospital in Los Angeles. He died of cancer.

Discography

Alto Sax Artistry (1950).

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