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
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 5, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/209552.

Smith, Buster. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 5, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/209552.

"Smith, Buster." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 5 November 2024.