Johnny "Hammond" Smith
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Johnny "Hammond" Smith (born John Robert Smith), also known since 1971 as Johnny Hammond, was an American soul jazz and hard bop organist born in Louisville, Kentucky on December 16, 1933 and who died in Chicago on June 4, 1997. Smith was a renowned player of the Hammond B-3 organ, thus earning "Hammond" as a nickname. One of his bands featured Etta Jones and Houston Person. His career took off as he was serving as accompanist to singer Nancy Wilson. One of his last accomplishments also included Nancy Wilson. He wrote the song "Quiet Fire" for her "Nancy Now" release in 1989.
In 1974, he decided to drop "Smith" from his name, referring to himself as "Johnny Hammond." His style became increasingly funky, culminating in two popular albums with the Mizell Brothers, "Gambler's Life" (1974) and "Gears" (1975). He also began using electric and acoustic pianos, in addition to his signature instrument.
Smith recorded a series of albums on the well-regarded CTI Records (Creed Taylor) jazz record label. Hammond's song "Shifting Gears" was featured on the breakbeat compilation Ultimate Breaks and Beats, and was also featured in the soundtrack of the 2006 video game Driver: Parallel Lines as well. Smith also taught at the Cal Poly Pomona music department for several years, beginning in January 1987.
Partial discography
- Imagination (1959) Warwick
- All Soul (1959) New Jazz
- That Good Feelin' (1959) New Jazz
- Gettin' the Message (1960) Prestige
- Talk That Talk (1960) New Jazz
- Stimulation (1961) Prestige
- Opus De Funk (1961) Prestige
- Johnny Hammond Cooks with Gator Tail (1962) Prestige
- Look Out! (1962) New Jazz
- Black Coffee (1963) Riverside
- Mr. Wonderful (1963) Riverside
- A Little Taste (1963) Riverside
- Open House (1963) Riverside
- The Stinger , Prestige (1965)
- The Stinger Meets the Golden Thrush , Prestige (1966)
- Love Potion #9 , Prestige (1966)
- Ebb Tide , Prestige (1967)
- Gettin' Up , Prestige (1967)
- Soul Flowers , Prestige (1967)
- Dirty Grape , Prestige (1968)
- Nasty , Prestige (1968)
- Black Feeling! , Prestige (1969)
- Soul Talk , Prestige (1969)
- Here It Is , Prestige (1970)
- The Best of Johnny Hammond Smith , Prestige (1970)
- The Best of Johnny Hammond Smith For Lovers , Prestige (1970)
- Breakout , Kudu (1971)
- I'll Be There , Prestige (1971)
- What's Going On , Prestige (1971)
- Wild Horses Rock Steady , Kudu (1971)
- The Prophet , Kudu (1973)
- Higher Ground , Kudu (1974)
- Gambler's Life , Salvation (1974)
- Gears , Milestone (1975)
- Forever Taurus , Milestone (1976)
- Don't Let the System Get to You , Milestone (1978)
- Storm Warning , Milestone (1977)
