American jazz trumpeter, bandleader and teacher.
Born May 20, 1931, in Memphis, Tennessee, Died August 20, 2016 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Cousin of trumpeter Booker Little.
He started playing trumpet at the age of thirteen and later played in his high school band. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at Tennesse State Univeristy. His first appearance in New York was with the Tennessee State Collegians at a a Carnegie Hall concert. He continued his studies, doing postgraduate work at the University of Michigan under the tutelage of Professor Clifford P. Lillya.
After being drafted in 1954 and completing his tour of service duty, he found his next job in 1955, at the Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, Georgia, and since that time he remained teaching music at that school while also progressing in his career.
While performing in Atlanta he was approached by record producer Tom Wilson, who urged him to make a demonstration disc to submit to Blue Note for consideration. He was quickly signed by Blue Note after they received it. The first LP, produced by Wilson, was released in 1958, "Here Comes Louis Smith", included three Louis Smith originals. Numerous releases followed.
He became a tutor and band director at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and never stopped playing and recording.
2018
2016
Phono (4)
2xCD, Comp
2003
SteepleChase
CD, Album
2000
SteepleChase
CD, Album
1995
SteepleChase
CD, Album
1988
Advance Music, Advance Music
CD, Album
1958
1958
1957
Blue Note
7"
1957
Blue Note
7"
2021
2017
SteepleChase
CD, Album
2017
The Intense Media, Documents
10xCD, Comp + Box
2016
Membran, Documents
20xCD, Comp, Mono + Box
2016
Blue Note, Universal Music Group, The Jazz Labels
CD, Album, RE + CD, Album, RE + CD, Album, RE + CD
2016
Poll Winners Records
2xCD, Comp, RM
2014
The Intense Media
10xCD, Comp, Mono + Box
2014
Poll Winners Records
CD, Comp
2012
2010
Hollistic MusicWorks
CD, Album
2009
Blue Note
8xCD, Comp + Box
2008
Musica Jazz
CD, Album, Comp
2008
Blue Note
2xCD, Comp
2008
2005
Blue Note Records
CD, Comp
2004
SteepleChase
CD, Album
2004
2003
Time Life Music, Integrity Music
2xCD, Album, Comp
2003
1999
SteepleChase
CD, Album
1999
Blue Note
CD, Comp, Mono, Pap
1999
1999
1998
SteepleChase
CD, Album
1998
Blue Note
4xCD, Comp
1997
SteepleChase
CD, Album
1997
1996
Blue Note
CD, Comp
1996
1996
1995
1994
SteepleChase
CD, Album
1993
Sound Hills Records
CD, Album
1992
Phontastic
CD, Comp, Mono
1992
1991
SteepleChase
CD, Album
1991
1990
SteepleChase
CD, Album
1981
1980
1979
Denon
LP, Album
1979
1978
1978
1977
1969
1968
Quaker City Jazz
LP, Album
1966
1959
1958
1958
2014
Blue Note
2xCD, Comp
2009
Jazz & Τζαζ
CD, Comp
2008
Blue Note, EMI
2xCD, Comp
2007
Blue Note
6xCD, Comp
2007
Blue Note
CD, Comp
2007
Blue Note
CD, Comp
2005
Blue Note
2xCD, Comp
2000
Disky
2xCD, Comp
2000
1999
Disky
CD, Comp
1999
Blue Note
CD, Comp, Mono
1997
Blue Note
CD, Comp
1996
Blue Note
CD, Comp, Mono
1996
Blue Note
CD, Comp
1983
EMI
4xLP, Comp, Box
Blue Note
CD, Comp
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith
Louis Smith