Buster Smith | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Henry Franklin Smith |
| Also known as | Buster, Professor |
| Born | August 24, 1904 Alsdorf, Ellis County, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | August 10, 1991 (aged 86) Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, big band, swing |
| Instrument(s) | Alto saxophone, organ, guitar, clarinet, bass guitar |
| Years active | 1923–1980 |
| Labels | Atlantic |
Henry Franklin "Buster" Smith (August 24, 1904 – August 10, 1991),[1] also known as Professor Smith, was an American jazz alto saxophonist and mentor to Charlie Parker.[2] Smith was instrumental in instituting the Texas Sax Sound with Count Basie and Lester Young in the 1930s.
Smith played saxophone for a number of prominent band leaders including Duke Ellington and Earl Hines as well as vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. He recorded his only album as leader in 1959 and despite intending to record a follow-up, he was injured in an accident and nothing else was released.