ArtistInfo

Floyd Smith

g, 1917-1982 US, St. Louis
Musician of Jazz

Floyd Smith (January 25, 1917 – March 29, 1982) was an American jazz guitarist.Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Smith studied music theory as a teenager and learned ukulele as a child before taking up guitar. He spent his early career in territory bands, playing in groups such as the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra, the Sunset Royal Orchestra, Eddie Johnson's Crackerjacks, Andy Kirk's band, and the Brown Skin Models. His 1939 Floyd's Guitar Blues lap steel guitar instrumental with Andy Kirk and the 12 Clouds of Joy's was the first ever electric guitar hit record. He enlisted during World War II and was stationed in Britain as a Sargeant. Following the war, he led his own small ensembles in soul jazz and straight-ahead settings. He played with Bill Doggett early in the 1960s and then with Hank Marr and

Instruments

• Guitar
• Electric guitar

Genres

• Jazz
• Blues
• Pop
• R&B/Soul

Plays With