George "Harmonica" Smith
Appearance
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/George_Harmonica_Smith.jpg/220px-George_Harmonica_Smith.jpg)
George "Harmonica" Smith (April 22, 1924 – October 2, 1983)[1] (born Allen George Smith) was an American electric blues harmonica player.[2]
Life and career
Born in West Helena, Arkansas, United States, but brought up in Cairo, Illinois, he began playing professionally in 1951.[3] He joined the Muddy Waters' band in 1954 and played intermittently with that group.[3] He spent most of his life living on the West Coast of the United States.[3]
Smith played with Bacon Fat a blues group before working with Big Mama Thornton in the 1970s.[3] He played harmonica on her live album Jail in 1975.[3]
George "Harmonica" Smith died in 1983, in Los Angeles, California at the age of 59.[1]
Selected discography
- 2011: Teardrops Are Falling (Electro-Fi Records)[4][5]
- 1993: Harmonica Ace Ace Records[3][6]
- 1980: Harmonica Blues King Dobre Records 1061[7]
References
- ^ a b Michael Erlewine. "George "Harmonica" Smith | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
- ^ Du Noyer, Paul (2003). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Music (1st ed.). Fulham, London: Flame Tree Publishing. p. 181. ISBN 1-904041-96-5.
- ^ a b c d e f Russell, Tony (1997). The Blues - From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray. Dubai: Carlton Books Limited. p. 167. ISBN 1-85868-255-X.
- ^ Live recordings from 1983 at Chuy's in Tempe, Arizona.
- ^ "Teardrops Are Falling - George "Harmonica" Smith | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
- ^ Larry Hoffman. "Harmonica Ace: The Modern Masters - George "Harmonica" Smith | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-06.
- ^ "George "Harmonica" Smith discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved 2015-10-06.