Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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SMITH, Huey 'Piano'

(b 26 Jan. '34, New Orleans LA) R&B star of the '50s, with piano style infl. by Professor Longhair. He sessioned with Guitar Slim '49, Earl King ('Those Lonely, Lonely Nights'), Smiley Lewis ('I Hear You Knocking'), Lloyd Price, Little Richard; hits on Ace '57--8 with the Clowns incl. Bobby Marchan, lead singer; Charles Williams, drums; both Lee Allen and Red Tyler on saxes: '(I Got The) Rocking Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu' (top ten R&B, no. 52 pop), two-sided million-seller 'Don't You Just Know It'/'High Blood Pressure' (no. 4 R&B, 9 pop), 'Don't You Know Yockomo'; switched to Imperial, back to Ace with last chart entry 'Pop- Eye' '62. There were good LP compilations on Ace, Rhino, French EMI etc; CD Snag-A-Tooth Jeannie with the Clowns on Night Train. The '60s tracks incl. vocalists Gerri Hall, Curley Moore (replacing Marchan); Hall had single 'I'm The One' on Ace, duet 'I Think You Jivin' Me' on Vin as Huey and Jerry; she also sang with Ray Charles's Raelettes. Moore had local hit '66 'Soul Train' on Hotline '66. Twas The Night Before Christmas '62 on Ace had R&B versions of 'Jingle Bells', 'White Christmas'; it was reissued in UK '79. They toured USA, were even better live, best of all at home in New Orleans. As success declined Huey became a Jehovah's Witness.