591:. In his acceptance speech he said, "Actually you might not believe it, but this is a debut for me. It was Huey Smith and the Clowns, men like Curley Moore, Bobby Marchan, Roosevelt Wright, and John Williams." When the Louisiana Blues Hall of Fame honored Smith a year later, he said humbly that the honor mainly belonged to the Clowns. "I had the group the Pitter Pats and also the Hueys, but, now, very important is the members of the Clowns"- Bobby Marchan, Curley Moore, 'Scarface' John Williams", and Gerri Hall.
530:. The song was Ford's first hit, selling over a million copies. Ace's decision to release the song with the Ford vocal and to not release Smith's original version meant that Smith was unable to fully benefit from his own work, and the move by Ace is considered by music historians to be an example of racial injustice in the 1950s pop-music industry. (Smith's original version of the song was eventually released.)
558:"Scarface" John Williams - appeared on Atlantic Records subsidiary label Cotillion, number 45-44142, in 1971. It had been recorded along with remakes "High Blood Pressure", "Don’t You Just Know It", and "We Like Mambo" in 1970. Williams by this time had become a chief of the Apache Hunters Mardi Gras Indian tribe, and "We Like Mambo" contained Indian references.
501:, under the billing of Huey and Jerry. (This song is sometimes confused with the similarly titled 1956 single "Chickie Wah Wah", by Bobby Marchan, which has entirely different lyrics, tempo, chord structure and melody; the Vincent-Smith composition is built around the melody of the old black children's play song "Little Sally Walker.")
364:, said, "And Huey was catching the real second line on 'Little Liza Jane'. Of course he had the right cats doing it, but he had that instinct for getting it. And with Dave Dixon and Izzycoo (Gordon) singing on it, man, he couldn't get no better." Gordon, who also sang with another notable New Orleans vocal group
549:, Gerri Hall and Billy Brooks on another one of Smith's unreleased tracks, to produce "Pop-Eye", the last hit single credited to Smith. Moore also had minor regional solo hits under his own name, including "Don't Pity Me", recorded for SanSu Records; "Soul Train", on Hotline Records; and "Get Low Down."
278:
Smith wrote his first song "Robertson Street Boogie", named after the street where he lived, on the piano, when he was eight years old. He performed the tune with a friend Percy
Anderson, with the two billing themselves as Slick and Doc. Smith attended Walter L. Cohen High School in New Orleans.
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In the years following, Smith made several comebacks, performing as Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns, the Hueys, the Pitter Pats, and
Shindig Smith and the Soul Shakers, but he has never attained his former degree of success. A new recording of “Rocking Pneumonia” - featuring original vocalist
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on LaSalle Street. One night in March 1972, he was stabbed trying to stop a fight in front of a club on
Dryades Street. His death was a big blow, not only because he was a well-known musician but also because he was the Big Chief of the Mo Hawk (sic) Hunters and a friend of our uncle, Big Chief
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tribe. He sang lead on "Genevieve", "Tu-Ber-Cu-Lucas And The Sinus Blues", "Beatnik Blues", and "Quit My Job", and contributed vocals to "Don't You Just Know It", "Pop-Eye", "Just A Lonely Clown", and others. Williams left the Clowns in 1959 and formed the Tick Tocks. New
Orleans musician
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joining him on vocals. Not caring for the sound of his own voice, Huey instructed
Williams to move closer to the microphone. "Get in closer, John," he said. "I'm trying to get a hit out of this." The record was issued as "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu Part 1" on the
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said " I was close with
Scarface when we were teens. He sang with Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns in the early 1950s and then with the Tick Tocks—significant R&B groups in New Orleans. Scarface and I hung out a lot at the
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In 1979, Smith along with the re-formed version of the Clowns made his debut at the New
Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The members included Bobby Marchan, Gerri Hall, Roosevelt Wright, and Curley Moore.
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Meanwhile, Ace
Records released several more singles by Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns, including "We Like Birdland", "Well I'll Be John Brown", and "Don't You Know Yockomo" (a
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Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns also appeared at
Tipitina's in New Orleans and New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1981, but they did not perform after these two shows.
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noted, "I wrote the lyrics in the early '70s with my Uncle Jolly . They're set to a song with an
African rhythm that was popular with every Mardi Gras Indian tribe then.
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added, "My three brothers and I were all singers and musicians, but we didn't officially come together as a group until 1976, when we sang back-up harmony on '
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470:'--my Uncle Jolly's album. It was named after his tribe and featured Mardi Gras Indian call-and-response chants. Members of the New Orleans band
490:." I wrote "Brother John's" lyrics with my uncle as a tribute to a friend—John 'Scarface' Williams—who had been killed a short time earlier."
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The Clowns' most famous single, released in 1958, was "Don't You Just Know It" backed with "High Blood Pressure." This hit number 9 on the
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The Clowns' most famous single, released in 1958, was "Don't You Just Know It" backed with "High Blood Pressure." This hit number 9 on the
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Smith made a new recording with a band named Skor in 1977 at Sea-Saint Studios in New Orleans. This recording was released as the album,
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on drums. The Rhythm Aces consisted of vocalists Dave Dixon, Roland Cook, and Issacher "Izzycoo" Gordon. Mac Rebennack, also known as
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On December 17, 1985, Curley Moore was found murdered in Algiers neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was 42 years old.
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1123:"Huey "Piano" Smith Dies: New Orleans Rocker Behind 'Rockin' Pneumonia And Boogie Woogie Flu', 'Sea Cruise' Was 89"
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275:. He became known for his shuffling right-handed break on the piano that influenced other Southern players.
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478:. That's the first time we recorded Cyril's "Brother John." "In the case of "Brother John,",
545:, but the national hits did not follow. Instead, Ace Records again overdubbed new vocals by
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Pop chart and number 4 on the Rhythm and Blues chart. It was their second million seller.
321:. The same year he also played piano on several studio sessions for other artists, such as
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In 1959, Ace Records removed Smith's vocal track from the original recording of his song "
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Pop chart and number 4 on the Rhythm and Blues chart. It was their second million seller.
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of Ace Records, released a popular single, "Little Chickee Wah Wah", with Clowns singer
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In 1957, he formed a band, Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns, with sometime vocalist
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Aurgasm short biography and an MP3 sample of Smith's tune, "Don't You Just Know It"
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Smith died at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on February 13, 2023, aged 89.
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neighborhood of New Orleans. He was influenced by the innovative work of
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991:"Anatomy of a Song: 'Brother John/Iko Iko': Behind a New Orleans Hit"
395:" with singers Sidney Rayfield (Huey's barber) and eighteen-year-old
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at its most infectious and rollicking, as showcased on his classic
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1095:"New Orleans rock 'n' roll pioneer Huey 'Piano' Smith has died"
574:, in 1981. This album was the final studio recording by Smith.
512:, reached number 1 in both New Zealand and Australia in 1964).
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It was "Scarface" John Williams who contributed the trademark "
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and "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu Part 2" (an
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Having a Good Time with Huey "Piano" Smith & His Clowns
1072:"Rhythm & Blues Foundation – Preserving America's Soul"
1148:"Huey 'Piano' Smith, Session Man and Hitmaker, Dies at 89"
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618:"Free, Single and Disengaged"/"Just A Lonely Clown" (1957)
627:"Would You Believe It (I Have A Cold)"/"Genevieve" (1959)
704:(2nd ed.). London, UK: Barrie and Jenkins. p.
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Having a Good Time with Huey Piano Smith and His Clowns
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In 2000, Smith was honored with a Pioneer Award by the
195:(January 26, 1934 – February 13, 2023) was an American
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Jolly, who was chief of his Mardi Gras Indian tribe."
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noted that "At the peak of his game, Smith epitomized
621:"Don't You Just Know It"/"High Blood Pressure" (1958)
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was first to popularize this rhythm on his 1954 hit "
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Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns members
344:with his Rhythm Aces. The A-side of the record was
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945:Louisiana Rocks: The True Genesis of Rock and Roll
867:Huey "Piano" Smith and the Rocking Pneumonia Blues
733:. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 179.
420:status. Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns hit the
203:whose sound was influential in the development of
329:for Earl King ("Those Lonely Lonely Nights") and
869:. Louisiana State University Press. p. 47.
298:. When Smith was eighteen, in 1952, he signed a
608:"Everybody's Wailin'"/"Little Liza Jane" (1956)
526:" and replaced it with a vocal track by singer
624:"Havin' a Good Time"/"We Like Birdland" (1958)
892:The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray
797:The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray
508:of which, recorded by the New Zealand artist
8:
633:"She Got Low Down"/"Mean, Mean, Mean" (1961)
630:"Beatnik Blues"/"For Cryin' Out Loud" (1960)
313:In 1955, Smith became the piano player with
1270:Rhythm and blues musicians from New Orleans
613:Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu
393:Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu
252:Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu
967:Bogdanov, Vladimir, et al. (eds.) (2001).
541:'s noted producer (and fellow Louisianan)
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1201:Huey Piano Smith and the Clowns : '
822:Kennedy, Rick, and McNutt, Randy (1999).
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474:were on there, and it was co-produced by
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416:sold over one million copies, achieving
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380:, and signed a long-term contract with
282:When Smith was 15, he began working in
1206:, Discogs.com, Retrieved 27 March 2023
1037:"45 Discography for Cotillion Records"
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894:. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 131.
826:. Indiana University Press. pg. 132;
799:. Dubai: Carlton Books. p. 157.
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729:Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013).
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1305:21st-century American male musicians
1300:20th-century American male musicians
971:(4th ed.). Backbeat Books. pg. 372;
1275:Ace Records (United States) artists
1260:American rhythm and blues musicians
1191:Allmusic. Retrieved 27 January 2023
922:. Pelican Publishing. p. 171.
294:, Eddie Jones, who rose to fame as
210:His piano playing incorporated the
1057:White, Cliff (1981). Liner notes.
384:, represented by former Specialty
325:. Two of the sessions resulted in
25:
1121:Evans, Greg (February 21, 2023).
391:. Smith and the Clowns recorded "
1093:Wirt, John (February 14, 2023).
653:'Twas The Night Before Christmas
1203:Twas The Night Before Christmas
920:Rhythm And Blues In New Orleans
1295:21st-century American pianists
1285:20th-century American pianists
989:Myers, Marc (April 21, 2015).
372:With the Clowns at Ace Records
317:'s first band in sessions for
1:
731:Blues - A Regional Experience
570:by the British record label,
636:"Pop-Eye"/"Scald Dog" (1962)
340:In 1956, Smith recorded for
27:American pianist (1934–2023)
1179:. Retrieved 13 January 2023
589:Rhythm and Blues Foundation
533:Smith left Ace Records for
1326:
1231:Huey "Piano" Smith
1061:. London: Charley Records.
484:James "Sugar Boy" Crawford
698:Murrells, Joseph (1978).
234:and the R&B style of
18:Huey Smith and the Clowns
1265:Imperial Records artists
1039:. Global Dog Productions
1018:. Da Capo Press. p. 92.
701:The Book of Golden Discs
615:, Part 1, Part 2" (1957)
493:In 1958, Vin Records, a
397:"Scarface" John Williams
824:Little Labels—Big Sound
429:with several follow-up
1290:American male pianists
1173:Don't You Just Know It
947:. Pelican Publishing.
890:Russell, Tony (1997).
795:Russell, Tony (1997).
468:The Wild Tchoupitoulas
408:) on the flip side by
267:Smith was born in the
82:Baton Rouge, Louisiana
65:New Orleans, Louisiana
1014:Koster, Rick (2002).
918:Broven, John (2016).
1074:. rhythm-n-blues.org
943:Aswell, Tom (2010).
568:Rockin' & Jivin'
290:with his flamboyant
1280:Sue Records artists
1154:. February 20, 2023
995:Wall Street Journal
865:Wirt, John (2014).
335:I Hear You Knocking
244:New Orleans R&B
1225:Huey "Piano" Smith
1059:Sehorn's Soul Farm
412:John Vincent. The
346:"Little Liza Jane"
300:recording contract
273:Professor Longhair
36:Huey "Piano" Smith
954:978-1-58980-677-1
876:978-0-8071-5295-9
537:, to record with
449:Mardi Gras Indian
319:Specialty Records
232:Jelly Roll Morton
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75:February 13, 2023
47:Huey Pierce Smith
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1100:The Advocate
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410:Ace Records'
406:instrumental
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342:Ace Records'
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269:Central City
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216:Pete Johnson
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199:pianist and
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127:Years active
77:(2023-02-13)
29:
1255:2023 deaths
1250:1934 births
1078:October 11,
774:"Biography"
660:As composer
598:Discography
562:Later years
539:Fats Domino
464:Art Neville
382:Ace Records
366:The Spiders
358:Earl Palmer
323:Lloyd Price
296:Guitar Slim
263:Early years
236:Fats Domino
185:Huey Pierce
106:Occupations
1244:Categories
678:References
667:Sea Cruise
524:Sea Cruise
499:Gerri Hall
495:subsidiary
472:the Meters
445:Mardi Gras
214:styles of
157:Pitter Pat
118:bandleader
115:songwriter
58:1934-01-26
43:Birth name
1043:March 31,
517:Billboard
510:Dinah Lee
488:Jock-a-Mo
438:Billboard
423:Billboard
418:gold disc
354:Earl King
350:Lee Allen
308:Earl King
288:recording
230:style of
166:Cotillion
131:1949–1981
1177:AllMusic
362:Dr. John
240:AllMusic
153:Imperial
780:May 20,
603:Singles
431:singles
292:partner
197:R&B
161:Instant
112:Pianist
98:R&B
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673:(1959)
655:(1962)
649:(1959)
641:Albums
427:charts
414:record
402:A-side
258:Career
226:, the
222:, and
171:Charly
136:Labels
89:Genres
84:, U.S.
67:, U.S.
302:with
284:clubs
193:Smith
189:Piano
143:Savoy
1235:IMDb
1160:2023
1134:2023
1108:2023
1080:2009
1045:2023
1020:ISBN
1002:2020
973:ISBN
949:ISBN
924:ISBN
896:ISBN
871:ISBN
828:ISBN
801:ISBN
782:2009
735:ISBN
710:ISBN
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286:and
228:jazz
72:Died
52:Born
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254:".
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