DESCRIPTION:
Horace Smith had a long career in Chicago music, and I was privileged to know "Smitty". I think I met him in Al Fook's Orchestra which played at the Greenville, Mississippi Club at 322 W. 119th street. I don't recall how I first was invited to play in Al Fook's orchestra. That was where I met Floyd McDaniel, Calvin Ladner, Van Kelly ,Tony Smith, and all the fellows. The bass player was Walter Harper. Horace was very interested in the music of Thad Jones and had a weekly workshop in the VFW on 75th street where he practiced the wonderful details of Thad's music. Al Fook had played in Jay McShann's band at the time the Charlie Parker was in it. If you ever find an album on the Spotlite label called: Early Bird, check it out, there's Al Fook. Van Kelly was in Billy Eckstein's orchestra of 1946, and Fletcher Henderson's orchestra of 1947. Some of the fellows I didn't get to know very well but was glad for the opportunity to play in various ensembles with them. Smitty was always searching for ways to promote his band and the music he loved, and this was an occasion when the band was invited to play on Channel 19, public access cable. Ed Willett had come into the Greenville, Mississippi club and made a program of Al Fook's band, but that's one tape that got away.