International Archives For The Jazz Organ (IAJO) - The Jazz Organ Scene USA

Johnny "Hammond" Smith

Johnny "Hammond" Smith, a.k.a. Johnny Smith or Johnny Hammond, was born John Robert Smith in Louisville/KY December 1933. He began his musical training at age 13 only and had piano lessons. Later, he toured as pianist with the Kenny Hale Big Band and the group of sax player Paul Williams.

In 1948, he for the first time had heard Will Bill Davis playing the Hammond organ. Johnny was amazed about the sound of this instrument. But it was in 1957 only, that he decided to switch to the organ. It is said, that at that time Erroll Garner's piano style influenced Johnny's organ style. By 1958, he formed his own group and went on the road. It was Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis who discovered Johnny as a great organist. That led to a long lasting partnership with Prestige Records until 1971, when he changed to CTI.

Many well known jazz artists played together with Johnny, such as Houston Person, Earl Edwards, Floyd Smith, Wally Richardson, Jimmy Lewis, Virgil Jones, Thornel Schwartz, John Abercrombie, Grover Washington jr, George Benson, Ron Carter, and many more. Johnny got very much ahead when he began to accompany singer Nancy Wilson. He even wrote a song for her ("Quiet Fire").

In his later years, Johnny also worked as a music teacher. From 1987, he gave lessons at Cal oly Pomona. Johnny passed away on 04 June 1997.

contact:
fan homepage:	www.johnnyhammondsmith.com

Discography

Have You Heard Johnny Smith (a.k.a. Imagination) Arrow Records LP 1200 released 1958 recorded 1958 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny Smith, organ George Tucker, bass Leo Stevens, drums Thornel Schwartz, guitar
All Soul New Jazz Records 8221 released 1959 recorded September 1959 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ George Tucker, bass Leo Stevens, drums Thornel Schwartz, guitar
That Good Feelin' Prestige New Jazz 8229 released 1959 recorded November 1959 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Thornel Schwartz, guitar George Tucker, bass Leo Stevens, drums
Taking Care Of Business Prestige New Jazz 8233 released 1960 recorded March 1960 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Oliver Nelson, alto sax, tenor sax Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Lem Winchester, vibes George Tucker, bass Roy Haynes, drums
Talk That Talk Prestige New Jazz 8241 released 1960 recorded April 1960 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Oliver Nelson, tenor sax George Tucker, bass Arthur Taylor, drums Ray Barretto, conga
Gettin' The Message Prestige PR 7217 released 1961 recorded October 1960 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Lem Winchester, vibes Eddie McFadden, guitar Wendell Marshall, bass Bill Erskine, drums
Stimulation! Prestige PR 7203 released 1961 recorded February 1961 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Freddie McCoy, vibes Eddie McFadden, guitar Wendell Marshall, bass Leo Stevens, drums
Cooks With Gator Tail (a.k.a. Good 'Nuff) Prestige PRST 7239 released 1962 recorded June 1962 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Willis Jackson, tenor sax Eddie McFadden, guitar Leo Stevens, drums
Black Coffee Riverside 9422 released 1963 released 1969 on Riverside as Rufus Toofus recorded live November 1962 at the Monterey Club, New Haven, CT/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Eddie McFadden, guitar Houston Person, tenor sax Leo Stevens, drums Seldon Powell, tenor sax
Look Out! Prestige New Jazz 8288 released 1963 recorded January 1962 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Seldon Powell, tenor sax Clement Wells, vibes Wally Richardson, guitar Leo Stevens, drums
Mr. Wonderful Riverside 9466 released 1963 recorded 1963 in New York City/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Eddie McFadden, guitar Houston Person, tenor sax Leo Stevens, drums
Angel Eyes Prestige PR 7369 released 1965 recorded June 1960 & September 1962 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Gene Ammons, tenor sax Frank Wess, tenor sax, flute Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Doug Watkins, bass Art Taylor, drums
The Stinger Prestige PR 7408 released 1965 recorded May 1965 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Houston Person, tenor sax Earl Edwards, tenor sax Floyd Smith, guitar John Harris, drums
Opus De Funk Prestige PR 7420 released 1966 recorded February/May 1961 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Freddie McCoy, vibes Eddie McFadden, guitar Wendell Marshall, bass Leo Stevens, drums
The Stinger Meets The Golden Thrush Prestige PR 7464 released 1966 recorded January 1966 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Byrdie Green, vocals Otis Sutton, alto sax Houston Person, tenor sax Eddie McFadden, guitar Leo Stevens, drums
Open House Riverside 9482 released 1966	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Bob Cranshaw, bass Ray Barretto, congas Leo Stevens, drums Seldon Powell, tenor sax, flute Thad Jones, trumpet, cornet
The Golden Thrush Strikes! Prestige PRST 7503 released 1966 recorded July 1966 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Byrdie Green, vocals Gene Walker, tenor sax Virgil Jones, trumpet Eddie Diehl, guitar Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Jimmy Lewis, bass John Harris, drums
Love Potion #9 Prestige PR 7482 released 1967 recorded September 1966 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Eddie Diehl, guitar John Harris, drums Gene Walker, tenor sax Virgil Jones, trumpet
Gettin' Up (a.k.a. Ebb Tide) Prestige PR 7494 released 1967 recorded March 1967 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Virgil Jones, trumpet Houston Person, tenor sax Thornel Schwartz, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass John Harris, drums
I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) Prestige PRST 7509 released 1967 recorded April 1967 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Byrdie Green, vocals Houston Person, tenor sax Thornel Schwartz, guitar Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Jimmy Lewis, bass John Harris, drums
A Little Taste Riverside 9496 released 1967 recorded 1963-1964 in New York City/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Luis Taylor, drums Houston Person, tenor sax Virgil Jones, trumpet
Soul Flowers Prestige PR 7549 released 1968 recorded September 1967 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Earl Edwards, tenor sax Houston Person, tenor sax Wally Richardson, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass John Harris, drums Richard Landrum, conga
Dirty Grape Prestige PR 7564 released 1968 recorded January 1968 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Houston Person, tenor sax Earl Edwards, tenor sax Wally Richardson, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass John Harris, drums Richard Landrum, conga
Sister Byrdie! Prestige PR 7574 released 1968 recorded March/April 1968 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Byrdie Green, vocals Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Wally Richardson, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass John Harris, drums Lucille Burgess, chorus Ann Craig, chorus Lynn Daniels, chorus
Nasty! Prestige PR 7588 released 1968 recorded June 1968 in New York City/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Houston Person, tenor sax John Abercrombie, guitar Grady Tate, drums
Soul Talk Prestige PR 7681 released 1969 recorded May 1969 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Rusty Bryant, alto sax Wally Richardson, guitar Bob Bushnell, bass Bernard Purdie, drums
The Best Of Johnny "Hammond" Smith Prestige PR 7705 released 1969 recorded various dates and places	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ various artists
Black Feeling! Prestige PR 7736 released 1970 recorded December 1969 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Virgil Jones, trumpet Rusty Bryant, tenor sax Leo Johnson, tenor sax Wally Richardson, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass Bernard Purdie, drums
Here It 'Tis Prestige PR 10002 released 1970 recorded September 1970 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Houston Person, tenor sax James Clark, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass Bernard Purdie, drums
What's Going On Prestige PR 10015 released 1971 recorded April 1971 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Grover Washington jr, tenor sax James Clark, guitar Ted Dunbar, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass Eddie Gee, drums Ernie Royal, trumpet Robert Prado, trumpet Garnett Brown, trombone Richard Landry, tenor sax Babe Clarke, baritone sax
Night Life Prestige PR 7854 released 1971 recorded in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Billy Butler, guitar Jesse Powell, tenor sax Houston Person, tenor sax Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ, piano Bob Bushnell, bass Jimmy Johnson, drums
Breakout KUDU KU-01 released 1971 recorded June 1971 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Hank Crawford, alto sax Johnny Williams, bass Billy Cobham, drums Eric Gale, guitar Airto Moreira, percussion Grover Washington, tenor sax Danny Moore, trumpet George Benson, guitar Stanley Turrentine, tenor sax Freddie Hubbard, trumpet
Wild Horses Rock Stead KUDU KU-04 released 1972 recorded November 1971 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ, piano Ron Carter, bass Billy Cobham, drums Bob Mann, guitar Eric Gale, guitar George Benson, guitar Melvin Sparks, guitar Airto Moreira, percussion Omar Clay, percussion Grover Washington jr, alto sax, tenor sax Harold Vick, alto sax, tenor sax Pepper Adams, baritone sax Wayne Andre, trombone Al DeRisi, trumpet, flugelhorn and many more
California Concert CTI Records 342-501-001-002 released 1972 recorded July 1971 at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, CA/USA	George Benson, guitar Freddie Hubbard, trumpet Hubert Laws, flute Stanley Turrentine, tenor sax Hank Crawford, alto sax Johnny Hammond, organ, piano Ron Carter, bass Billy Cobham, drums Airto, percussion
The Prophet KUDU KU-10 released 1973 recorded November 1972 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ, piano Ron Carter, bass Billy Cobham, drums Eric Gale, guitar Jerry Dodgion, tenor sax Maceo Parker, tenor sax Cecil Payne, baritone sax Pepper Adams, baritone sax Dick Griffin, trombone Wayne Andre, trombone Tony Studd, bass trombone John Eckert, trumpet, flugelhorn Jon Faddis, trumpet, flugelhorn Marvon Stamm, trumpet, flugelhorn Airot Moreira, percussion Andrew Primus, steel drums Carl Carldwell, vocals Lani Groves, vocals Tasha Thomas, vocals
Higher Ground KUDU KU-16 released 1974 recorded October/November 1973 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Hank Crawford, alto sax Joe Henderson, tenor sax Wayne Andre, trombone Tony Studd, trombone Paul Faulise, bass trombone Alan Raph, bass trombone Jon Faddis, trumpet John Frosk, trumpet Alan Rubin, trumpet Marvin Stamm, trumpet, flugelhorn Ray Alonge, French horn Romeo Penque, oboe, alto flute Eddie Daniels, clarinet Eli Carmen, bassoon George Benson, guitar Bob James, piano, organ Ron Carter, bass Jack DeJohnette, drums Steve Gadd, drums Phil Kraus, percussion Ralph McDonald, percussion
Gambler's Life Salvation Records SAL 702 S1 released 1974 recorded June 1974 in Hollywood, CA/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, piano, synthesizer Henry Franklin, bass Tony Dumas, bass Fonce Mizell, clavinet, trumpet King Errisson, congas Fritz Wise, drums Harvey Mason, drums John Rowin, guitar Mel Bolton, guitar Melvin Ragin, guitar Stephanie Spruill, percussion, vocals Jerry Peters, piano Carl Randell jr, sax Larry Mizell, synthesizer Al Hail, trombone
Gears Milestone M-9062 released 1975 recorded July 1975 in Berkeley, CA/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ, piano, synthesizer Julian Priester, trombone Hadley Caliman, tenor sax Roger Glenn, flute, vibes Michael White, violin Jerry Peters, piano Fonce Mizell, clavinet Larry Mizell, solina John Rowin, guitar Craig McMullen, guitar Chuck Rainey, bass Harvey Mason, drums Kenneth Nash, percussion
Forever Taurus Milestone M-9068 released 1976 recorded March 1976 in Berkeley, CA/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Hammond organ, piano, synthesizer Lee Ritenour, guitar Sonny Burke, piano, clavinet Marlo Henderson, synthesizer Henry Davis, bass Scott Edwards, bass Curtis Robertson, bass James Gadson, drums Bill Summers, percussion horns section string section
CTI Summer Jazz At The Hollywood Bowl CTI Records CTI 7076 released 1977 recorded live July 1972 in Hollywood, CA/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ George Benson, guitar Ron Carter, bass Hank Crawford, alto sax Jack DeJohnette, drums Deodato, Fender Rhodes Joe Farrell, tenor sax Freddie Hubbard, trumpet, flugelhorn Milt Jackson, vibes Bob James, Fender Rhodes Hubert Laws, flute Airto Moreira, percussion, conga Esther Phillips, vocals Stanley Turrentine, tenor sax Grover Washington jr - alto sax
Storm Warning Milestone M-9076 released 1977 recorded 1977 in USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, keyboards, synthesizers Larry Farrow, clavinet Carol Kaye, guitar Ron Carter, bass Ndugu Leon Chancler, drums Bill Summers, percussion, congas
Don't Let The System Get You Milestone M-9083 released 1978 recorded August/October 1977 in Los Angeles, CA/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, keyboards, vocals Byron Miller, bass Tony Dumas, bass Jack Perry, clavinet Larry Farrow, clavinet Sheila Escovedo, congas Leon Ndugu Chancler, drums Al McKay, guitar Dan Papaila, guitar David T. Walker, guitar Mel Bolton, guitar Bill Summers, percussion Al Hail jr, percussion, trombone Hadley Caliman, sax
Positively Timeless Records CD SJP 403 released 1993 recorded in Hollywood, CA/USA	Dan Papaila, guitar Rickey Woodard, tenor sax Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Sherman Ferguson, drums Tom Aros, percussion
Jazz Organ Summit Cannonball CBD 27102 recorded May 1997 in Chicago, IL/USA	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Hammond B-3 organ Frank Catalano, tenor sax Mike Allemana, guitar Terry Morrisette, drums
Legends Of Acid Jazz Prestige PRCD 24197-2 recorded December 1968 in Englewood Cliffs, NJ/USA	Tracks 07-12: Night Life (Prestige 7854) Billy Butler, guitar Jesse Powell, tenor sax Houston Person, tenor sax Johnny "Hammond" Smith, piano, organ Bob Bushnell, bass Jimmy Johnson, drums
Legends Of Acid Jazz Prestige PRCD 24177-2 compilation	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Rusty Bryant, alto sax Rusty Bryant, tenor sax Leo Johnson, tenor sax Rusty Bryant, sax Virgil Jones, trumpet Wally Richardson, guitar Bob Bushnell, bass Jimmy Lewis, bass Bernard Purdie, drums
The Soulful Blues Prestige PRCD 24244-2 originally released as Ebb Tide (PR 7494) and Nasty (PR 7588)	Johnny Hammond Smith, organ Houston Person, tenor sax Virgil Jones, trumpet John Abercrombie, guitar Thornel Schwartz, guitar Jimmy Lewis, bass Grady Tate, drums John Harris, drums
Gentle Jug, Vol. 3 Prestige PRCD-24249-2 compilation, recorded June 1960 through February 1970	Gene Ammons, tenor sax Sonny Stitt, alto sax, tenor sax Joe Newman, trumpet Frank Wess, flute Clarence "Sleepy" Anderson, organ, piano John Houston, piano Wynton Kelly, piano Jack McDuff, organ Sonny Phillips, organ Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ Bob Bushnell, bass George Duvivier, bass Wendell Marshall, bass Doug Watkins, bass Buster Williams, bass George Brown, drums Rudy Collins, drums J.C. Heard, drums Walter Perkins, drums Charlie Persip, drums Bernard "Pretty" Purdie, drums Art Taylor, drums Ray Barretto, congas
Essential Organ Masters Master Classics Record compilation	Johnny "Hammond" Smith, organ further details unknown

Sound Samples

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