Daily Dose Of Jazz

Keith John Smith was born on March 19, 1940 in Isleworth, Middlesex, England. Originally intent on pursuing studies in engineering, he began playing trumpet at the age of 15. Soon after he began playing in local amateur ensembles, including Norrie Cox’s band and the New Teao Brass Band, the latter including Chris Barber and Ken Colyer.

His first professional gig came in 1960 as a member of Mickey Ashman’s Ragtime Jazz Band. In 1962, he started the Climax Jazz Band and began recording. In 1964, Smith visited New Orleans for the first time, where he played with George Lewis. Intending to move to the U.S. permanently, he worked briefly in New Orleans, Louisiana before spending time in California and New York. In 1966, he organized an all-star band to tour Canada and Europe, which included Pops Foster, Jimmy Archey, and Alvin Alcorn.

Moving to Denmark in 1972 he remained there until 1975, playing with Papa Bue in his Viking Jazz Band. Afterwards he returned to England, where he founded a new band, Hefty Jazz. This group lasted over a decade, toured internationally and over the years featured George Chisholm, Mick Pyne, Peanuts Hucko, Nat Pierce, Johnny Mince, and Barrett Deems. Concurrently, he was named leader of the Louis Armstrong All-Stars in 1981, and in 1984 served as producer for Stardust Road, a televised film made as a tribute to Hoagy Carmichael. Late in his life he lived in Germany, still active as a performer.

Trumpeter Keith Smith, principally active on the trad jazz and Dixieland revival scenes, transitioned on January 4, 2008 in London, England from a heart attack at the age of 67.

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