Buster Smith

A talented alto saxophonist and an arranger/composer who probably wrote “A single O’Clock Leap” (although Count number Basie received the credit), Buster Smith’s efforts to jazz are difficult to assess because he was under-recorded throughout his profession. Charlie Parker frequently acknowledged Smith’s impact on his shade, as well as the few early recordings from the old altoist do present some similarity (although Bird’s design would become a lot more advanced); Parker performed in Smith’s music group in 1937. Buster Smith was a fixture in Kansas Town for the majority of his most crucial years. He was with Walter Page’s Blue Devils from 1925-1933 (the music group only produced two recordings) and Bennie Moten’s orchestra during its last period (1933-1935), and co-led the Barons of Tempo with Count number Basie. Sadly, he chose never to accompany Basie to NY. When Smith finally proceeded to go East, he added arrangements to many orchestras (including those led by Gene Krupa, Count number Basie, and Benny Carter) and got brief stints with Don Redman, Scorching Lips Web page, Eddie Durham, and Snub Mosley. Buster Smith came back initial to Kansas Town and finally to Tx for the rest of his lifestyle. He documented one extremely obscure (and longer out-of-print) Atlantic record in 1959.