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 Byther Smith is a true ‘Living Legend' of the Chicago blues scene and during his long lasting career he worked with the greatest of the
Chicago blues artists like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed and Otis Rush.
Born in Monticello, Mississippi on April 17, 1933 young Byther Smith
got his first musical experiences with gospel music, a music that he returned to at various stages of his career.
As a teenager Byther moved to Arizona, working on a cattle ranch
and playing with a country & western band at weekends. In 1957 he moved to Chicago at the advice of his cousin, the legendary J.B. Lenoir. He began gigging and taking guitar lessons
from Robert Lockwood and Hubert Sumlin presumably on the basis that if you're going to get a guitar teacher you might as well get the best.
In the early 1960's Byther Smith was working the clubs on guitar and bass both as a leader and in various bands as sideman. A group of highly prized recordings were made resulting in
45's on labels such as Bea & Baby, Cruise and Apex. In 1965 it was back to gospel with the Gospel Travellers for a time. In the 1970's he spent five years in the house band at Theresa's
Tavern, which often meant playing with Junior Wells.
1979 found Byther Smith determined to make it under his own name and a steady stream of
coast to coast gigging and touring commenced. He made several recordings and his releases, "Addressing the nation with the blues" (JSP) and "Housefire" and "I'm a mad man"
(both on Bullseye), were very successful. Recently Byther released two CD's ("Mississippi Kid" and "All Night Long") on Delmark Records.
During the years Byther Smith has toured all over the world. In Europe several times, among others as a member of the Chicago Blues Festival. Byther Smith did several very successful
European tours between Nov '94 and Sept '99. During these tours he performed in Holland, Belgium, Germany, France, Norway, Sweden and the UK.
During these tours in headlined the Moulin Blues Festival in Ospel (NL), the Handzame Blues Festival in Belgium and Le Nuit De Blues in Sarreguemines (F).
Byther released CD's on several labels and his last one (Smitty's Blues) was released in March 2001 on Black and Tan Records. In Oct 2003 he made recordings for a new record
which will be released (also on Black and Tan) in Dec 2003. His next european tour is scheduled for April / May 2004.
Visit Byther Smith’s web site
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