Willie Smith
William McLeish Smith (November 25, 1910 – March 7, 1967) was an American saxophonist and one of the major alto saxophone players of the swing era. He also played clarinet and sang. |
Birth and Death Data: Born November 25, 1910 (Charleston), Died March 7, 1967 (Los Angeles)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1925 - 1957
Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone, arranger, composer
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor | BVE-62599 | 10-in. | 6/6/1930 | In dat mornin' | Moses Allen ; Chickasaw Syncopators ; Jimmie Lunceford | Jazz/dance band, with talk | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | |
| Victor | BVE-62600 | 10-in. | 6/6/1930 | Sweet rhythm | Chickasaw Syncopators ; Jimmie Lunceford | Jazz/dance band | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | |
| Columbia | W141246 | 10-in. | 11/5/1925 | Keep your temper | Gulf Coast Seven | Jazz/dance band | composer | |
| Decca | 38531 | 10-in. | 9/4/1934 | Sophisticated lady-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger | ||
| Decca | 38532 | 10-in. | 9/4/1934 | Mood indigo | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger | ||
| Decca | 38533 | 10-in. | 9/4/1934 | Rose room-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger | ||
| Decca | 39551 | 10-in. | 5/29/1935 | Sleepy time gal-4, 5 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 39552 | 10-in. | 5/29/1935 | Bird of paradise-2, 4 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 39553 | 10-in. | 5/29/1935 | Rhapsody junior-2, 4 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 39554 | 10-in. | 5/29/1935 | Runnin' wild-3 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39555 | 10-in. | 5/29/1935 | Four or five times | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39556 | 10-in. | 5/29/1935 | Four or five times | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39557 | 10-in. | 5/29/1935 | (If I had) Rhythm in my nursery rhymes-4 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39996 | 10-in. | 9/23/1935 | Babs-1, 5 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39997 | 10-in. | 9/23/1935 | Swanee river-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39998 | 10-in. | 9/23/1935 | Thunder-4 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 39999 | 10-in. | 9/23/1935 | Oh boy-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 60000 | 10-in. | 9/23/1935 | Charmaine-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 60001 | 10-in. | 9/23/1935 | Hittin' the bottle-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 60013 | 10-in. | 9/30/1935 | I'll take the South-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 60014 | 10-in. | 9/30/1935 | Avalon-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 60015 | 10-in. | 9/30/1935 | Charmaine-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 60016 | 10-in. | 9/30/1935 | Hittin' the bottle-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 60274 | 10-in. | 12/23/1935 | My blue heaven-1, 3, 4 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 60275 | 10-in. | 12/23/1935 | I'm nuts about screwy music-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 60276 | 10-in. | 12/23/1935 | The best things in life are free-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 60277 | 10-in. | 12/23/1935 | The melody man-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61246 | 10-in. | 8/31/1936 | Organ grinder's swing | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61247 | 10-in. | 9/1/1936 | On the beach at Bali Bali-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61248 | 10-in. | 9/1/1936 | Me and the moon-1, 2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61249 | 10-in. | 9/1/1936 | Living from day to day-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61250 | 10-in. | 9/1/1936 | T'ain't good (like a nickel made of wood) | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61323 | 10-in. | 10/14/1936 | Muddy water-1, 3 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61324 | 10-in. | 10/14/1936 | I can't escape from you-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61325 | 10-in. | 10/14/1936 | Harlem shout-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61345 | 10-in. | 10/26/1936 | (This is) My last affair-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61346 | 10-in. | 10/26/1936 | Running a temperature-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61531 | 10-in. | 1/18/1937 | Honey, keep your mind on me | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61532 | 10-in. | 1/18/1937 | Count me out | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61533 | 10-in. | 1/20/1937 | I'll see you in my dreams | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61550 | 10-in. | 1/26/1937 | He ain' 't got rhythm-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61551 | 10-in. | 1/26/1937 | Linger awhile-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61552 | 10-in. | 1/26/1937 | Honest and truly-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 61553 | 10-in. | 1/26/1937 | Slumming on Park Avenue-3 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62259 | 10-in. | 1/26/1937 | Coquette | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62260 | 10-in. | 1/26/1937 | The merry-go-round broke down | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62261 | 10-in. | 1/26/1937 | Ragging the scale | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62262 | 10-in. | 1/26/1937 | Hell's bells | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62263 | 10-in. | 1/26/1937 | For dancers only | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62344 | 10-in. | 7/8/1937 | Posin' | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62345 | 10-in. | 7/8/1937 | The first time I saw you-4 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62346 | 10-in. | 7/8/1937 | Honey, keep your mind on me-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 62347 | 10-in. | 7/8/1937 | Put on your old grey bonnet-3 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63133 | 10-in. | 1/6/1938 | Margie-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63134 | 10-in. | 1/6/1938 | The love nest-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63135 | 10-in. | 1/6/1938 | I'm laughing up my sleeve-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | 63585 | 10-in. | 4/12/1938 | Down by the old mill stream-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 63586 | 10-in. | 4/12/1938 | My melancholy baby-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 63587 | 10-in. | 4/12/1938 | Sweet Sue, just you-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 63588 | 10-in. | 4/12/1938 | By the River Sainte Marie-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 68874 | 10-in. | 3/26/1941 | Blue prelude-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 68875 | 10-in. | 3/26/1941 | I had a proposition-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 68876 | 10-in. | 3/26/1941 | Twenty-four robbers-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 68877 | 10-in. | 3/26/1941 | Battle axe-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 69035 | 10-in. | 4/22/1941 | Peace and love for all-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 69036 | 10-in. | 4/22/1941 | Chocolate | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 69680 | 10-in. | 8/26/1941 | Gone-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 69681 | 10-in. | 8/26/1941 | Hi spook-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 69682 | 10-in. | 8/26/1941 | Yard dog mazurka-1, 3 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 69683 | 10-in. | 8/26/1941 | Impromptu-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 70093 | 10-in. | 12/22/1941 | Blues in the night, part 1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 70094 | 10-in. | 12/22/1941 | Blues in the night, part 2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 70095 | 10-in. | 12/23/1941 | I'm losing my mind (because of you) | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 70096 | 10-in. | 12/23/1941 | Life is fine-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 70654 | 10-in. | 4/14/1942 | It had to be you-2, 3 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone | ||
| Decca | 70655 | 10-in. | 4/14/1942 | I'm gonna move to the outskirts of town, part 1-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 70656 | 10-in. | 4/14/1942 | I'm gonna move to the outskirts of town, part 2-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | 80004 | 8/4/1947 | Stardust, part 1 | Charlie Shavers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 80005 | 8/4/1947 | Stardust, part 2 | Charlie Shavers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 80006 | 8/4/1947 | Stardust, part 3 | Charlie Shavers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 80007 | 8/4/1947 | Stardust, part 4 | Charlie Shavers | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 80008 | 8/4/1947 | The man I love, part 1 | Gene Norman "Just Jazz" All Stars | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 80009 | 8/4/1947 | The man I love, part 2 | Gene Norman "Just Jazz" All Stars | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 80010 | 8/4/1947 | The man I love, part 3 | Gene Norman "Just Jazz" All Stars | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 80011 | 8/4/1947 | The man I love, part 4 | Gene Norman "Just Jazz" All Stars | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 102958 | 7/23/1957 | On a slow boat to China | The Ellingtonians ; Al Hibbler | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 103165 | 8/27/1957 | Trees | The Ellingtonians ; Al Hibbler | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 103167 | 8/27/1957 | Ol' man river | The Ellingtonians ; Al Hibbler | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 103168 | 8/27/1957 | Summertime | The Ellingtonians ; Al Hibbler | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 103796 | 8/4/1947 | One o'clock jump-1 | Gene Norman "Just Jazz" All Stars | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 103797 | 8/4/1947 | Oh, lady be good-2 | Gene Norman "Just Jazz" All Stars | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | DLA 1010 | 10-in. | 7/24/1936 | Pigeon walk-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | DLA 1011 | 10-in. | 11/5/1937 | Like a ship at sea | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | DLA 1012 | 10-in. | 11/5/1937 | Teasin' Tessie Brown | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | DLA 1013 | 10-in. | 11/5/1937 | Annie Laurie | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | DLA 1014 | 10-in. | 11/5/1937 | Frisco fog-3 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | arranger, instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone | ||
| Decca | DLA 2447 | 10-in. | 6/23/1941 | I'm walking through heaven with you | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | DLA 2448 | 10-in. | 6/23/1941 | You' re always in my dreams | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | DLA 2449 | 10-in. | 6/23/1941 | Flamingo | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | DLA 2450 | 10-in. | 6/23/1941 | Siesta at the fiesta | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | L 3063 | 10-in. | 6/26/1942 | Strictly instrumental | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | L 3064 | 10-in. | 6/26/1942 | Easy street | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | L 3065 | 10-in. | 6/26/1942 | Knock me a kiss-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | L 3066 | 10-in. | 6/26/1942 | Keep smiling, keep laughin'-1 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | L 3096 | 10-in. | 7/14/1942 | I dream a lot about you-2 | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | L 3097 | 10-in. | 7/14/1942 | Easy street | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Decca | L 3098 | 10-in. | 7/14/1942 | I'm lonesome and so blue | Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone, clarinet | ||
| Signature | 101 | 12/12/1945 | Hollywood pop | Sam Donahue Swing Seven | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 102 | 12/12/1945 | Encore essence | Sam Donahue Swing Seven | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 103 | 12/12/1945 | Round the block | Sam Donahue Swing Seven | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Decca | 104 | 12/12/1945 | Catch as catch can | Sam Donahue Swing Seven | instrumentalist, alto saxophone | |||
| Signature | LS 1945 | 1/31/1946 | Meandering [take 1 | Shorty Sherock Orchestra | instrumentalist, alto saxophone |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Willie," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106449.
Smith, Willie. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106449.
"Smith, Willie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Smith, Willie, 1910-1967 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n91115274
Wikidata: Willie Smith - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1270714
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/100230500
MusicBrainz: Willie Smith - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/2a3fb3ab-fc87-4094-9bfb-64640aa183a6
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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