Carson Smith

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Carson Smith · Carson Raymond Smith (1931 to 1997) was an American jazz double bassist, born in San Francisco. He was the older brother of the jazz musician and composer Putter Smith. His early work was in West Coast jazz: he played with Gerry Mulligan from 1952 to 1953, with Chet Baker from 1953 to 1955, with Russ Freeman and with Chico Hamilton. He also recorded with Clifford Brown and Dick Twardzik, and in 1956 accompanied Billie Holiday at Carnegie Hall.

Music and breakthrough

In 1959 he toured with the orchestra of Stan Kenton and in 1960 he recorded with Charlie Barnet. In 1962 he moved to Los Angeles, where he played with Charlie Teagarden and Lionel Hampton. In 1964 he toured Japan with Georgie Auld. Later in the 1960s he played with Buddy Rich, Arno Marsh and Carl Fontana. In 1989 he worked on a reunion album with Chico Hamilton. Eventually he found a permanent post at the Four Queens Hotel in Las Vegas, where he accompanied visiting musicians such as Art Farmer, Lew Tabackin, Zoot Sims and Chet Baker. He died of cancer in Las Vegas at the age of 66.

Influence

Smith belongs to the bassists who carried the sound of West Coast jazz in the 1950s. A bassist like him seldom makes the headlines, but without his solid, precise accompaniment the soloists of that time could not have soared.

Listening

In School of Rock

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