Lonnie Smith
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Biography
(1966 – present)
His affinity for R&B melded with his own personal style, and he quickly became a local legend. He moved to New York City, where he met George Benson, the guitarist for Jack McDuff’s band. Benson and Smith connected on a personal level, and the two formed the George Benson Quartet featuring Lonnie Smith in 1966. After two albums (It’s Uptown and Cookbook), Smith recorded his first solo album (Finger Lickin’ Good) in 1967, with George Benson on guitar, Ronnie Cuber on bass, Melvin Sparks and Marion Booker on drums. This combination remained stable for the next five years. In 1967, Smith met Lou Donaldson, who put him in contact with Blue Note Records. Donaldson asked the quartet to record an album for Blue Note, Alligator Boogaloo. Blue Note was so impressed by the album that they signed Smith for the next four albums, all of which are now considered classics of soul jazz. This highly influential period produced Think (with Melvin Sparks, Marion Booker, Lee Morgan and David Newman) and Turning Point (with Lee Morgan, Benny Maupin, Melvin Sparks and Idris Muhammed). The latter is largely regarded as his most seminal studio album.
Smith toured the Northeastern United States heavily during this period, proving himself to be one of New York’s finest musicians. He concentrated largely on smaller neighborhood venues during this period, playing SRO shows that boosted his credibility and allowed him to develop his style more intimately in front of his audience.
Top Tracks
Top Albums
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Live At Club Mozambique
5,551 listeners8 tracks
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Boogaloo To Beck - A Tribute
9,424 listeners11 tracks
Released:
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Drives
3,432 listeners5 tracks
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Afrodesia
5,312 listeners7 tracks
Released:
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norbassp
What a groove! Highest quality.
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goldenbeetle
so nice
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BigBeatNut
So, the whole world calls him Dr Lonnie Smith and Last.fm calls him Lonnie Smith. What next ? Are they going to call Dr John just "John" ?
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habphoto
A true funkmeister.
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saoirse87
if you ain't smokin' weed and you ain't listening to smith's boogaloo to beck, i don't know what you are doing with your life. i really don't.
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allbadendsall
Son of Ice Bag has to be one of the coolest songs ever.
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Protozoan
I got to see him and MM&Wood back to back. Greatest thing ever.
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arturomeade
good doctor... la pura medicina!!
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lele_musicus
The best doctor in the world!
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ElliotClowes
So wish I was 18 so I could see him at Ronnie Scotts in London. Might risk it.
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toper1991
just love hammond sound...
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DotsDisconnect
hey man. not true
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larslindahl
really liking the new album. old mans still got it.
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OdedFriedGaon
An amazing blender of RnB and Jazz. Utterly enjoyable!
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rusty_necek
class!
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pgjesper
lonnie - u are über cool
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greatrussian
. sorry for being slowminded
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greatrussian
i can't get it. does beck plays covers?
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funkhunter
You should watch the intro on his website: http://www.drlonniesmith.com/home.htm His hammond-playing is so funky!
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onlinebands
Such an animated player -- saw him at Bonnaroo last summer.
All 23 shouts
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