Buster Smith

Henry Franklin "Buster" Smith (August 24, 1904 – August 10, 1991), also known as Professor Smith, was an American jazz alto saxophonist and mentor to Charlie Parker. Smith was instrumental in instituting the Texas Sax Sound with Count Basie and Lester Young in the 1930s.

Smith played saxophone for a number of prominent band leaders including Duke Ellington and Earl Hines as well as vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. He recorded his only album as leader in 1959 and despite intending to record a follow-up, he was injured in an accident and nothing else was released.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 24, 1904 (Alsdorf), Died August 10, 1991 (Dallas)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1940 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: clarinet, alto saxophone, 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 BS-047797 10-in. 3/11/1940 Ride my blues away Harlan Leonard ; Rockets ; Ernie Williams Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo composer  
Brunswick KC612 10-in. 11/10/1929 Blue Devil blues Original Blue Devils ; Walter Page Jazz/dance band, with vocal instrumentalist, clarinet, alto saxophone  
Decca 69557 10-in. 7/23/1941 I don't want to set the world on fire Bon Bon and his Buddies instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 69558 10-in. 7/23/1941 Blow, Gabriel, blow Bon Bon and his Buddies instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 69559 10-in. 7/23/1941 Sweet Mama, Papa's getting mad Bon Bon and his Buddies instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 69560 10-in. 7/23/1941 All that meat and no potatoes Bon Bon and his Buddies instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 69827 10-in. 10/15/1941 Messy Boone's Jumping Jacks instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 69828 10-in. 10/16/1941 I'm fer it Boone's Jumping Jacks instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 69829 10-in. 10/16/1941 Please be careful Boone's Jumping Jacks instrumentalist, clarinet  
Decca 69830 10-in. 10/16/1941 Take me back Boone's Jumping Jacks instrumentalist, clarinet  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Buster," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/209552.

Smith, Buster. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/209552.

"Smith, Buster." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/209552

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