Albums by Lonnie Smith
ALBUMLenox and Seventh: The Definitive Black & Blue SessionsLonnie Smith & Alvin Queen
ALBUMGotcha / Funk ReactionLonnie Smith
ALBUMKeep On Lovin'Lonnie Smith
ALBUMAfro-DesiaLonnie Smith
ALBUMAfrodesiaLonnie Smith
ALBUMMama Wailer (CTI Records 40th Anniversary Edition)Lonnie Smith
ALBUMDrivesLonnie Smith
ALBUMTurning Point (Rudy Van Gelder Edition Remastered)Lonnie Smith
ALBUMThink!Lonnie Smith
ALBUMFinger Lickin' GoodLonnie Smith
Artist Playlists
Lonnie Smith Essentials
A soul-jazz pioneer and ancestor to the groove of hip-hop.
Artist Biography
A swashbuckling torchbearer for the funky soul-jazz tradition, Hammond B-3 organ master Dr. Lonnie Smith is often cited as a major influence on the electronic, hip-hop, and funk artists who have followed him. He first grabbed attention in the late 1960s playing alongside George Benson and Lou Donaldson, the former of whom appeared on the organist's 1967 debut album, Finger-Lickin' Good. That same year, Smith played on Donaldson's Blue Note classic Alligator Boogaloo and followed with several of his own sessions for the label, including 1968's Think! with Lee Morgan. He recorded for CTI in the '70s before taking a break from the music business. Since returning to regular performing in the '90s, Smith has regained his prominence with several Top 20 Billboard Jazz albums for Blue Note, including 2016's Evolution and 2021's Breathe with Iggy Pop.
Hometown
Lackawanna, NY, United States
Genre
Jazz