Biography
Born in Buffalo, New York in 1942, Smith had an early musical influence in his mother who sparked a love of gospel, blues and jazz music. As a teenager he was introduced to the Hammond organ and began immersing himself in the records of Wild Bill Davis, Bill Doggett and Jimmy Smith as well as paying rapt attention to the church organ. Smith’s first gigs were at the Pine Grill, a Buffalo club where he came to the attention of Lou Donaldson, Jack McDuff and George Benson, eventually joining Benson’s quartet and moving to New York City.
After releasing his debut album Finger Lickin’ Good for Columbia, Smith joined Lou Donaldson’s band and made his first Blue Note appearance on the saxophonist’s hit 1967 album Alligator Boogaloo. Two more Donaldson dates followed (Mr. Shing-A-Ling and Midnight Creeper) before Smith was offered his own Blue Note deal, making his label debut with Think! in 1968. Smith went on to record another four Blue Note albums over the next two years (Turning Point, Move Your Hand, Drives and Live at Club Mozambique) all of which are regarded as soul-jazz classics.
After his first run of Blue Note albums Smith recorded for many labels, most recently his own label Pilgrimage, and his wide-ranging musical tastes have found him covering everyone from John Coltrane to Jimi Hendrix to Beck. Many awards have followed since 1969 when Down Beat named Smith the “Top Organist” of the year, including honors from the Jazz Journalists Association, Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and more.
Smith helped celebrate Blue Note’s 75th anniversary in 2014 by appearing with Donaldson at the historic concert Blue Note at 75 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Some of Smith’s early tracks for Blue Note are collected on the playlist Intro to Dr. Lonnie Smith including standout cuts like “Spinning Wheel,” which was famously sampled by A Tribe Called Quest for their songs “Can I Kick It?” and “Buggin’ Out.” Smith’s return to Blue Note, Evolution, is released in 2015.
Releases
Breathe - Dr. Lonnie Smith
All In My Mind - Dr. Lonnie Smith
Evolution - Dr. Lonnie Smith
Live At Club Mozambique - Dr. Lonnie Smith
Drives - Dr. Lonnie Smith
Move Your Hand - Dr. Lonnie Smith
Turning Point - Dr. Lonnie Smith
Think! - Dr. Lonnie Smith
Videos
Iggy Pop “First Look” with Don Was
SPOTLIGHT
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Dr. Lonnie Smith “Breathe”
The legendary Hammond B-3 organist Dr. Lonnie Smith has recorded over thirty albums as a leader, but his favorite setting to document his creativity is live. “It’s so hard to capture what I’m feeling at the moment in the studio,” he says. “Hearing me live is catching me playing in the moment. It’s a good vibe. It’s a loving situation.” During the 2017 celebration of his 75th... read more
DR. LONNIE SMITH STAYS IN THE MOMENT
The marvelous Dr. Lonnie Smith stands tall as the foremost maestro of the Hammond B-3 organ and at the age of 75 still reigns as a master of innovation and experimentation. The 2017 NEA Jazz Master may say that all he does is simply old school, but Smith paints new hues across the canvas of tradition with aplomb, as evidenced on his spirited new live album All in My Mind. The album is his second... read more
THE EVOLUTION OF DR. LONNIE SMITH
Dr. Lonnie Smith not only stands as the preeminent Hammond B-3 organist in jazz today, but at the age of 73 he’s still progressing as an artist, as witnessed by his remarkable new album, appropriately titled Evolution. Teeming with his trademark accent marks, finesse caresses, bright sparks and jagged lines, Evolution finds Smith in the company of his regular band and special guests Robert... read more
News
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CLASSIC VINYL REISSUE SERIES 2024 TITLES ANNOUNCED
Blue Note Records has announced the next run of titles in the Classic Vinyl Reissue Series, which presents affordable 180g all-analog vinyl reissues in standard packaging that are mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes and manufactured at Optimal. Curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman, the series... read more
CLASSIC VINYL REISSUE SERIES 2023 TITLES ANNOUNCED
Blue Note Records has announced the next run of titles in the Classic Vinyl Reissue Series, which presents affordable 180g all-analog vinyl reissues in standard packaging that are mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes and manufactured at Optimal. Curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman, the series... read more
DR. LONNIE SMITH (1942-2021)
Blue Note Records is saddened to announce the passing of Hammond B3 organ legend and NEA Jazz Master Dr. Lonnie Smith. Smith died today of at his home in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He was 79 years old. His death was confirmed by his manager Holly Case. The cause was pulmonary fibrosis. A celebration of his life and... read more
DR. LONNIE SMITH “BREATHE” GETS VINYL RELEASE DEC. 17 FEATURING BONUS COLLABORATION WITH IGGY POP
We’re excited to announce a December 17 vinyl release of Breathe, the acclaimed new album by NEA Jazz Master Dr. Lonnie Smith. The 2-LP vinyl edition will contain the additional bonus track “Move Your Hand,” a third collaboration between the legendary Hammond B-3 organist and rock icon Iggy Pop which was... read more
DR. LONNIE SMITH & IGGY POP TEAM UP ON A FUNKY VERSION OF “SUNSHINE SUPERMAN”
Hammond -B3 organ master Dr. Lonnie Smith has teamed up with rock icon Iggy Pop on the new single “Sunshine Superman,” a funky soul jazz version of the 1966 Donovan hit that is one of two studio collaborations by the two legends that bookend Smith’s forthcoming album Breathe, which will be released March 26 on... read more
HAMMOND B-3 ORGAN LEGEND DR. LONNIE SMITH TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM “BREATHE” ON MARCH 26
On March 26, Blue Note Records will release Breathe, the third new album by legendary Hammond B-3 organist Dr. Lonnie Smith since his 2016 return to the label where he first made a name for himself in the late-1960s. Produced by Don Was, Breathe is a dynamic eight-song set, six tracks of which were recorded during... read more
TONE POET AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUE SERIES CONTINUES IN 2020
Blue Note Records has announced the continuation of the acclaimed Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series in 2020. Launched in 2019 in honor of the label’s 80th Anniversary, the Tone Poet series is produced by Joe Harley and features all-analog, 180g audiophile vinyl reissues that are mastered from the original... read more
PRESENTING THE BLUE NOTE 80 VINYL REISSUE SERIES
In honor of Blue Note Records’ 80th Anniversary, the legendary Jazz label is launching the Blue Note 80 Vinyl Reissue Series. Distinct from the Tone Poet Audiophile Vinyl Reissue Series, this 2nd series curated by Don Was and Cem Kurosman features mid-priced 180g vinyl releases in standard packaging with albums... read more
INTRODUCING “BLUE NOTE REVIEW” – A NEW BIANNUAL LIMITED EDITION BOXSET SUBSCRIPTION SERIES
Blue Note Records introduces Blue Note Review: Volume One - Peace, Love & Fishing, the inaugural edition of a stunning new biannual, limited edition, luxury boxset subscription series that encapsulates the storied past and auspicious future of the legendary jazz label. The beautifully curated collector's item is a... read more
