Little Smokey Smothers
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Little Smokey Smothers
- Genres: Blues
Biography
Not to be confused with his late older brother Big Smokey, Albert "Little Smokey" Smothers began to transcend his journeyman status in 1993 with a superlative Dick Shurman-produced album for the Dutch Black Magic label, Bossman: The Chicago Blues of Little Smokey Smothers. The set happily reunited him with his ex-guitar pupil Elvin Bishop and his cousin, singer Lee Shot Williams.Little Smokey rolled into Chicago during the mid-'50s, landing gigs with guitarist Arthur "Big Boy" Spires and pianist Lazy Bill Lucas and playing with Howlin' Wolf on the 1959 Chess session that produced "I've Been Abused" and "Mr. Airplane Man." Smothers fell in with young White harpist Paul Butterfield when the latter was just starting out in the early '60s and is still fondly recalled as a major influence by his buddy Bishop, who would go on to make history as Butterfield's slashing axeman after Smothers left the harpist's employ.
There was a time during the '70s when Little Smokey pretty much gave up music, but he slid back into playing gradually during the next decade with the Legendary Blues Band. Heart problems temporarily shelved Smothers for a spell not too long ago, but he's back in action now, releasing That's My Partner with Elvin Bishop in 2000 among other dates. ~ Bill Dahl, Rovi
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Little Smokey Smothers
| Little Smokey Smothers | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Albert Abraham Smothers |
| Born | January 2, 1939 Tchula, Mississippi, United States |
| Died | November 20, 2010 (aged 71) Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | Chicago blues[1] |
| Occupations | Guitarist, singer |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | Late 1950s – 2010 |
| Labels | Various |
Little Smokey Smothers (January 2, 1939[1] – November 20, 2010)[2] was an African American, Chicago blues guitarist and singer.
His elder brother, Otis (died 1993), was known as the bluesman Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers, with whom he was sometimes confused.
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Contents
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Biography
Albert Abraham "Abe" Smothers was born in Tchula, Mississippi,[1][2] learned guitar at the age of 15, and relocated to Chicago two years later.[3][4] He soon appeared on stage playing alongside Arthur “Big Boy” Spires, Magic Sam, Otis Rush and Lazy Bill Lucas.[4] In 1958 he joined up with Howlin' Wolf, and played on Wolf's recording session for Chess Records the following year. Tracks Smothers contributed to included "I've Been Abused," "Howlin' for My Darling," and "Mr. Airplane Man."[1]
In 1961 he founded Little Smokey Smothers and the Pipeplayers.[4] He later met Paul Butterfield and became a founding member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. He was replaced in the band by Elvin Bishop, but developed a friendship that lasted a lifetime.[4] Throughout the 1960s Smothers appeared with Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Earl Hooker, and Junior Wells.[3] Musical opportunities dried up in the 1970s, and Smothers worked in construction.[4] He recorded again, after several years break, in 1979 as part of Mojo Buford's Chicago Blues Summit album.[5] He re-appeared in the 1980s with The Legendary Blues Band.[6] Their 1989 recording, Woke up with the Blues, included contributions from Smothers.[4][7]
In 1993, Bishop made a guest appearance on Smothers first solo album with the Dutch Black Magic label, Bossman! The Chicago Blues of Little Smokey Smothers. The recording also included work from Smothers' cousin, Lee "Shot" Williams.[1] Bishop and Smothers played at the 1993 Chicago Blues Festival.[8] Smothers had open heart surgery in 1995, but the following year issued Second Time Around.[4] Smothers performed at the 1999 San Diego Blues Festival, and at a party for Mick Jagger's 55th birthday.[3]
Alligator Records then issued That's My Partner (2000), a live album recorded in San Francisco, which saw Smothers reunited with Bishop.[1] Smothers also appeared at the 2000 Chicago Blues Festival.[9] He also featured in Martin Scorsese's 2003 television series The Blues, with excerpts from his live show.[5] In 2006 Smothers and Bishop played live at the Ground Zero club in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Latterly Smothers experienced health problems, and had both legs amputated due to diabetes.
In 2009, Bishop compiled the benefit album, Chicago Blues Buddies, incorporating recordings made by Smothers and Bishop dating back to 1992. Proceeds from the album helped to pay for Smothers' medical costs.[8]
On November 20, 2010, after a spell in a Chicago hospital, Smothers died of natural causes.[2]
Discography
Albums
- Bossman! The Chicago Blues of Little Smokey Smothers (1993) - Black Magic (Netherlands)
- Second Time Around (1996) - Crosscut (Germany)
- Chicago Blues Buddies (2009) - Black Derby[10]
Other appearances
- Woke up with the Blues (1989) - Ichiban - The Legendary Blues Band
- Cold Shot (1995) - Black Magic - Lee "Shot" Williams
- That's My Partner (2000) - Alligator - Elvin Bishop
- Chicago Blues Summit (2002) - P-Vine - George "Mojo" Buford
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Dahl, Bill. "Little Smokey Smothers". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p168507/biography. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c White, Jim. "Chicago blues guitarist "Little Smokey" Smothers dies". Communityvoices.sites.post-gazatte.com. http://communityvoices.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/arts-entertainment-living/blue-notes/26276-chicago-blues-guitarist-qlittle-smokeyq-smothers-dies. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Little Smokey Smothers". Centerstagechicago.com. http://www.centerstagechicago.com/music/whoswho/LittleSmokeySmothers.html. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Albert "Little Smokey" Smothers". Mississippi Writers & Musicians. http://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/musicians/albert-smothers.html. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
- ^ a b Dick Shurman & Bruce Iglauer, Obituary in Juke Blues no.70, 2010, p.60
- ^ Crosscut.de - accessed March 2010
- ^ Blues.co.nz - accessed March 2010
- ^ a b Gordon, Rev. Keith A.. "Little Smokey Smothers Benefit CD". About.com. http://blues.about.com/b/2010/01/11/little-smokey-smothers-benefit-cd.htm. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
- ^ Hdtracks.com - accessed March 2010
- ^ "Allmusic ((( Little Smokey Smothers > Discography > Main Albums )))". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p168507/discography.
External links
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Mentioned in
Mojo Buford's Blues Summit
(1979 Album by Mojo Buford)
Little Smokey Smothers
(Blues Artist, '90s)
Lee "Shot" Williams
(Blues Artist, '60s-2000s)
Tony Z
(Blues Artist, '90s, 2000s)
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