Johnny Smith: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Herb Ellis
• Howard Roberts
• Joe Pass
• Wes Montgomery
• Al Casey
• Charlton Johnson
• Barney Kessel

• Tal Farlow
• Chuck Wayne
• Andrés Segovia
• Jimmy Raney
• Billy Bauer
• Django Reinhardt

• Tiny Grimes
• Pat Martino
• Sam T. Brown
• Jack Wilkins
• Gabor Szabo
• Barry Zweig
• Bill Frisell

• Don Lamond

• Richard Rodgers
• Lorenz Hart

Birth Name:

John Henry Smith Jnr.

Born:

Jun 25, 1922 in Birmingham, AL

Genres:

Classical Music, Jazz Music, Cool Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1940's|1950's|1960's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

Guitarist Johnny Smith will always be best remembered for his 1952 hit recording of "Moonlight in Vermont," a mellow ballad that also features Stan Getz. Smith, whose chordaloriented style is selftaught, originally played trumpet, violin, and viola before switching to guitar. A studio musician from 1947 on, Smith's impressive technique and quiet sound made him in great demand even before "Moonlight" and, although he never had another hit, he was a popular attraction throughout the 1950s. After moving to Colorado in the 1960s he opened a music store, taught, and maintained a lower profile, occasionally recording in New York.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide