Posted on 02/15/2023 3:02:39 PM PST by nickcarraway
Huey "Piano" Smith, a pioneering figure in R&B and early rock 'n' roll music, died on Monday at age 89.
The news was confirmed to Nola.com by his daughter, Acquelyn Donsereaux. "He just slept away," Donsereaux said. "Daddy was the most positive person I know. Easygoing and funny. He was a comedian until the last couple of hours."
Smith was born in New Orleans in 1934 and was influenced by the regional music played by Professor Longhair. He wrote his first song, "Robertson Street Boogie" - named for the street where he lived - when was 8. As a teenager, Smith played piano in local bars and clubs, often performing with guitarist Eddie Jones, who was later known professionally as Guitar Slim. Smith's right-hand heavy style of playing made him stand out among New Orleans musicians, and in 1952, when he was 18, he signed his first recording contract with Savoy Records. The label released his first single, "You Made Me Cry."
Three years later, Smith became the piano player in Little Richard's first group while he was recording for Specialty Records. Smith also played sessions with Lloyd Price, Earl King and Smiley Lewis. In 1956, Smith recorded with the Rhythm Aces, marking the first time he worked with Mac Rebennack, better known as Dr. John, who would cite Smith and his distinct style of piano playing as a major influence.
"He had the perfect touch for what he was doing," New Orleans music legend Allen Toussaint noted in an interview at the 2014 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (via Nola.com). "Extremely creative and, though most of us are disciples of Professor Longhair, he was less a disciple of Fess than us. He was so strong within his own spirit."
In 1957, Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns were formed. That same year, the group recorded "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu," a hit single and influential recording in early rock 'n' roll that was later covered by acts like Aerosmith, Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen and Deep Purple. Another million-dollar seller followed in 1958, "Don't You Just Know It," which reached No. 9 on the Billboard Pop chart and No. 4 on the Rhythm and Blues chart.
Listen to Huey 'Piano' Smith's 'Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu'
Rockin' Pneumonia and Boogie Woogie Flu Subscribe to Ultimate Classic Rock on
The last time Smith and His Clowns performed was in 1981 at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. In 2000, Smith was given the Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. At the ceremony in New York City, Smith performed "Rocking Pneumonia" and "Sea Cruise" (a 1959 hit written by Smith and sung by Frankie Ford). It was the first time he played live in close to 20 years.
In 2014, Art Garfunkel listed "Don't You Just Know It" as one of 10 records that changed his life. "It’s a New Orleans rhythm with a piano that's kind of dragged in its tempo," he said. "It's down and dirty – it makes you wanna get up and dance."
it was a stupid song but also a lot of fun.
Kind of surprised he was only ‘89.
He was a great one.
Loved that song, along with others like “I’ll Be John Brown,” “High Blood Pressure,” “Hush Your Mouth,” his version of “Little Liza Jane,” and of course his original “Rockin Pneumonia.”
I'm surprised he was only 89, as well (or even that he was still around). Seems like he's been around forever. He must have been pretty young when he had his big hits.
Rest in peace, Huey, and thanks for the memories.
Doing the math from the article above, he must have been around 24 years old when “Don’t You Just Know It” was released.
So, was it the Rockin’ Pneumonia, or the Boogie Woogie Flu that finally got him?
Yeah, he was a contemporary of Fats Domino, they were both young guys in the New Orleans R&B scene when it started to transition to Rock ‘n Roll, so they were able to take advantage of that trend.
One little known fact is that sometimes when you hear a Fats Domino record it’s actually Huey Smith playing the piano part. Even though Fats could play, he knew Huey could do the simple arrangements on the record just as well as he could, so he would sometimes just have him record the piano part so he could focus on the vocals. Then later on, in the 60s, another New Orleans piano player, James Booker, would get gigs to be “Huey Smith” for live shows when Huey couldn’t make it. Everyone knew Huey’s records but unlike Fats, they didn’t usually know what he looked like, so if he didn’t want to bother doing a gig, he would toss that work to Booker.
Thanks for posting these songs. Haven’t heard them since I was a kid. And thanks for the bit of history. This was my favorite music and maybe still is.
the group recorded “Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu,” a hit single and influential recording in early rock ‘n’ roll that was later covered by acts like Aerosmith, Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen and Deep Purple.
I’ve never heard these versions, but Johnny Rivers took it to #6 in 1973.
J.R. still not in the R&R HOF.
That's criminal, especially considering some that are and are less deserving.
Great story. Thanks.
His version of Silent Night is great, weird but great.
He probably isn’t woke enough.
I love the way the musicians of that style used descriptor words as part of their name. Tried keeping a list of them in my teens. A physical description or the name of their instrument.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.