For Smith, it was confirmation that playing the Hammond organ was going to be his manifest

Transcription

1 Dr. Lonnie Smith remembers vividly that he experienced what can only be called a life-changing epiphany when he first sat down at a Hammond B3 organ. It was in a music shop owned by a man called Art Kubera. Smith was in his early twenties. " You know when you open up a Bible, and you see that they have a picture sometimes with the rays coming from the sky?," the organist asks me. "That's what it was like for me. I was sitting at the organ and then everything hit me, and I could hear the voices and everything." For Smith, it was confirmation that playing the Hammond organ was going to be his manifest 1 / 7

2 destiny. He started going to Mr Kubera's shop everyday to practice on the keyboard from opening to closing time. The proprietor didn't seem to mind but one day, intrigued by Smith's perseverance, asked him about his fascination with the big, chunky piece of musical equipment in his shop. Recalls Dr. Smith: "He said, 'can I ask you a question, son?' I said 'yes, sir,' and he said, 'why do you come in every day and just sit until closing time?' I said 'well, sir, I want to learn to play the instrument and if I can go out and play it, I can make a living.'" Smith recalls that seemed to make a deep impression with Mr Kubera who a few days later, closed up the shop early, beckoned the young organ grinder to the back of the store where "he opened a door and the organ was looking dead at me. He said, 'if you get this out of here, it's yours.'" Smith, who was born in the city of Lackawanna, New York, was incredulous at Art Kubera's generosity. "I didn't pay anything for it, and they were like over three grand back then," he says. "I call Art Kubera my angel. He watched my whole career. He just passed, a little over a year ago. We were doing a documentary on me and he died the next day before he even got to tell a story." 2 / 7

3 dabbled "I the gift." which that Kubera momentous play Both gigs Bryant We road Remembers "George Smith drove Before messed would remembers. school were was and took but musicians afterwards, featured gave group could the - hear with Ohio said, his also them around band organ two needed let moment true the never in a to playing that's also a to me song Meanwhile, exchanged Ohio. weeks the organist: pick calling, trumpet. young different let's swept sit sing, looked who first school and him behind " get notice organist. the Grover and him week I would up. was a back. parts career telephone trying George group play off once a to that looking lot Washington his pick the of His with of together." the I late feet Benson, Sammy picked play meeting manager, the Motown had him. numbers United for. '50s trumpet young one his I George had Jr sang Bryant a up. with groups States. early on in Jimmy rising organist. but his So but harmonies saxophone. a Benson twenties then group young number and I possession star that Smith had Boyd, was play lost of would and a "I guitarist was by the ended natural but recommended - went contact in the "I But a ear," jazz started I come Jack's fortnight - melody. group lost down thanks it in talent, was scene, with it." the playing through," guitar late" called to the later, each to early I which hear Lonnie was the Hammond - player with Lonnie George other '60s playing generous Jack also was Teen the Smith. was and McDuff out God's Smith Sammy Benson that organ their Kings, another Art said 3 / 7

4 impression both was Hammond Franklin. Columbia But him did Smith. "We made boss) At released sax/flute who says "He Blue a through had a was took got Smith. session Frank a legend Note, hit. a signed and such He in tragically off in was lot playing 1968 Then Wolff his produced to trumpeter, of at and Lonnie a soon New the work with fire Rudy groove which Blue want signed shot in gifted and York courted Columbia alongside a Van Note Smith's quartet you was and going. a Lee A&R us with lot Gelder's launched over called killed basically right by Morgan. of just debut As man Records together. life alto another here,' there by soon two me and studio who saxophonist his LP, the a Smith and songs," quintet as he by label own had "'Finger second they for we laughed said a has young discovered girlfriend - Donaldson. had spot." Blue laughs studio got (A&R fond Lickin' Lou phase it, me and fellow Note we Donaldson. memories man/arranger) session Smith. four from Good liked of had Billie Records. by his "That years Columbia a the to Soul Even featuring Holiday, career connection joke. of was name Both later. working Organ,' Blue so, 'Duke He with 'Alligator records." Bob of they David "He Note was John and there. released with Pearson Dylan, was made a album became Newman George Bogaloo,'" really Hammond. the beautiful," That quite and horn and by 'Think!' nice was Benson aware Aretha an We (label blower, recalls guy." tenor it. HeIt of 'Think!' followed called jukebox #24 'Move the with hit US up and its Your with R&B funky, the three Hand,' albums parent soul-jazz more recorded album chart LPs grooves, during became for at Club Blue a made 16-week Smith's Harlem Note #46 up best-selling chart until the run. US The R&B project The infectious charts, biggest on Blue and title was Note, song Lonnie a live peaking was album Smith a at 4 / 7

5 In C.T.I. company. nice Blue would was Creed that one different They didn't As which organ. write recalls "I people didn't 1972, says. the Van of doing. guy. Note a made get With featured play Taylor. '70s Sonny the lot but people Smith " Gelder He my of It's had, few organ it. I Taylor And progressed, the didn't." songs knew sound Because also now Lester mine engineers joined him of organ then and - doctor, a all at liked regarded the for singing secretive, and that they produced producer sound all business I write took Lonnie then helm, you top, who didn't record and capture as hear like it top other I'd says fastidious on some Creed get Smith playing a and musicians, cult at recorded lot when the was artists my Rudy his knew of on classic. road. was joined Taylor's sound," a different various organ his I'm studio theirs. kazoo Van too," reluctant what albums. 'Mama playing It the was "He sound Gelder's Kudu boffin we keyboards or he ways Groove was a something. kept Wailer,' all wanted. live "He to wonderful label, accurately. who played I easy provide could studio but changing was Merchant wore sadly Rudy What to a addition have imprint like It work label." songs nice white sounded each "I his Van the Blue remember album written fellow with," only wanted guys of gloves for to other's Gelder Note its his other studio thin but recalls for parent beloved in had. several was records. did." a recording and he people. the lot date wanted knew a Smith company, light. of studio roster, Hammond albums for different Some what They with of "A the says - like was very to he By 1980s decade) when tribute this he was albums time, but was a in Lonnie lean now to the Beck time prefixing 1990s, Smith and for he him had Jimi his began in started name Hendrix. terms to with to recorded of wear recordings the title his more 'Dr' signature (he - frequently he released was item back and of a clothing solitary by the groove, 2000s album - the turban. - recording a that decade The 5 / 7

6 In Don like laughs celebrates "It's you've feel 'Evolution' saxophonist, young remembers album remarks He understood music, 2015, was heard I like I'm Was, hadn't back pup been that's the like family. Smith." Dr. exactly released featured its genial and playing what left," the with Smith not Joe 80th Even he home. organist. Blue I them, what Lovano, was used re-signed anniversary with cameos 'Evolution,' way. if Note. It I trying you're guru didn't wanted to feels Fellow I who play old don't from to reflecting to great do always soul," recorded his next Blue with do when keyboardist, want another first without to year. me," Note stamped to I me." album on artists started explain with record and his me Robert Smith being for signed under having playing as anything. with the a reunited Blue Glasper, company to them, to so explain. aegis Note 1970s. I label. want fit. Blue with also He of artist. Note you When 45 producer "I the One was contributed took years. After iconic is of young feel." him always them all and jazz "Number have on those but to was when there. label Smith's to tenor years explain still president, one, that he Once first was away I felt a I trio features modal atmospheric Dr. recent Rolling laughs. "When me The '70s duet Alatuja. second explains She's decided out wonderful Lonnie uh. universe. stars. ever Lonnie's the fine. It album's as between expresses It's a the vamps years I'm Smith Stones, freedom an inauguration heck got Some She seven Dr. got It Jazz job." uptempo says let has tired Smith. new title number one the did everything." of has (Wayne her himself people Standard tracks, Bob the of a studio, album of singer. been beautiful has it " rain tune. way Dylan, the of 'Alhambra.' and might Shorter's was which that President playing most and for go-ahead I last She's great wanted He's feel. a song Blue wants and job. recall new the song range year respected slowed To relationship been the 'Juju') floods, It Bonnie Note, with singing to Sat Barack was her when me, that to Hammond from use singing the play to from to 'All it almost Lonnie but record the Raitt). play a right has soul-jazz sensation more trio Obama and In different her also with production keyboardist My all 'cos with me down like organ Smith be expansive, producers "What solo the Mind' and I me myself." she'd finger thought keyboard? from on elements sunshine, ex-was now originally to when I the love chair do written did America was snappers a for "She exotic album live what normally about accompanied the Not on would well celebrating that He the wrote recording, the lives USA I Was pieces and - over feel you answers rainbows, him, ('Up a song be project young and I (his transformed man use could great fifty he's New Jumped like his herself, recorded capturing credits by a what years. who again lady not larger think 75th the York, a her. fighting has choir I sultry, Spring') called snow, include she hear. negative. was birthday. I of it group, wondered him become It into Jersey," the did Don worked the Alicia and He me," and the to a late such but gives vocal Was. It "Uh- the his in he if Ia 6 / 7

7 As more " using not Dr conversation, humorous those Benson music He making he "You've That's liked DR I'd Lonnie states. asks for ponders out LONNIE like jazz work strings that shop future better yet... people never and to me before Smith have asides. make to owner, with the Lou projects, SMITH'S It's than he's seen happy an impact helped beautiful." done," a is but the Donaldson money He tinge softy-spoken, evidently orchestra. them I music seems love Dr everywhere 'ALL late his him Smith and before wonderment the music that Art in IN (with a content I anything. his musician way would Kubera. MY says touches but yet has career whom you're MIND' extremely they've that with love had go? And in who he's 'angels.' playing.' himself on IS his that. " world heard you spreads OUT people still voice. always self-effacing, I have start They and NOW of Oh, contact) a around you brimming benign, talking is done deeper wow, include touched VIA and a and the BLUE uplifting big you're form his with them world. peppers can't with band long-time NOTE new man making and genuine cosmic beat "Could thing ideas. that they his a RECORDS that." deeper friends, them reminisces vibes. started you say humility. Europe "There's happy. imagine 'I've way. In George it but never all He always with Maybe Wow. -it's calls that, 7 / 7