Biography
Born on 25 January 1932 in Union Church, Mississippi, Smith died on 19 April 1984 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Although his roots lay in Mississippi, the blues style he developed after moving to Louisiana in his twenties became far more closely identified with him. He picked up the harmonica during his teenage years and performed regularly before leaving his home state. Only after settling in Baton Rouge and joining forces with Lightnin’ Slim did he cut his debut sides. Straightforward yet telling on harmonica, his singing carried a raspy edge and remarkable force that earned him a wry nickname. The 1963 and 1964 singles established a name he later drew upon when the blues revival gained momentum. Additional tracks appeared on albums throughout the 1970s, while a single issued in the early 1980s confirmed he remained a potent blues artist.