Willie "The Lion" Smith
Willie "The Lion" Smith in the 1920s was considered one of the big three of stride piano (along with James P. Johnson and Fats Waller) even though he made almost no recordings until the mid-'30s. His mother was an organist and pianist, and Smith started playing piano when he was six. He earned a living playing piano as a teenager, gained his nickname "the Lion" for his heroism in World War I, and after his discharge he became one of the star attractions at Harlem's nightly rent parties. Although he toured with Mamie Smith (and played piano on her pioneering 1920 blues record "Crazy Blues"), Smith mostly freelanced throughout his life. He was an influence on the young Duke Ellington (who would later write "Portrait of the Lion") and most younger New York-based pianists of the 1920s and '30s. Although he was a braggart and (with his cigar and trademark derby hat) appeared to be a rough character, Smith was actually more colorful than menacing and a very sophisticated pianist with a light touch. His recordings with his Cubs (starting in 1935) and particularly his 1939 piano solos for Commodore (highlighted by "Echoes of Spring") cemented his place in history. Because he remained very active into the early '70s (writing his memoirs Music on My Mind in 1965), for quite a few decades Willie "the Lion" Smith was considered a living link to the glory days of early jazz.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Isn't It A Pity
Folk - Erschienen bei Willie Smith am 08.09.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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A Silver Cup
Jazz - Erschienen bei endless Loveers am 29.07.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Got a New Thing (Digital 45)
Soul - Erschienen bei Essential Media Group am 15.10.2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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A long time ago
Jazz - Erschienen bei Long Time Ago am 09.11.2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Little Plain Gold Ring
Jazz - Erschienen bei plain gold ring am 20.04.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Nightingale
Jazz - Erschienen bei oldies and hits for future am 04.05.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Overdue Blues
Punk – New Wave - Erschienen bei Willie Smith am 02.10.2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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All the Best
Jazz - Erschienen bei Vintage Jukebox am 17.05.2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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