Huey P. Smith

Born January 26, 1934, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Huey "Piano" Smith is an American jazz and blues pianist who is considered influential in many musical genres including pop, rock and New Orleans jazz. He composed his first song at the age of 8, titled "Ramsford Street Boogie", named after a street in his neighborhood. In 1952, at 18, he signed his first recording contract and attended and later graduated from The University of Louisiana. He had his first hit with "You Made Me Cry". Early in his career he teamed with Eddie Jones, later known as "Guitar Slim", to form the duo "Slick and Dark". Recording for Specialty Records, he was the first piano player to accompany Little Richard and also played sessions with Lloyd Price and Earl King. In 1957, recording for Ace Records, he and Bobby Marchand formed "Huey 'Piano' Smith and The Clowns". They had million-sellers with "Rockin' Pneumonia and The Boogie Woogie Flu" (1957) and "Don't You Just Know It" (1958), both now considered rock standards. In 1959 Ace Records substituted his voice on a recording of "Sea Cruise", which Huey had written, with that of newcomer Frankie Ford. It became a million-seller. Huey continued to perform for some time thereafter but was never able to recapture his earlier recording success.