Crickett Smith

William Crickett Smith (February 8, 1881 - 1947) was an American jazz cornetist and trumpeter.

Career

Little is known of Smith's early life, though he was born in Emporia, Kansas, the son of Tennessee Exodusters. He performed in vaudeville before making early recordings with James Reese Europe's group, the Clef Club Society Orchestra, in 1913-1914. He then recorded with Ford Dabney (de) in 1917-1919 before moving to Europe and playing with Louis Mitchell's Jazz Kings from 1919-1924, a group that recorded for Pathe Records. He became the leader of Mitchell's group in 1923. He toured France and Spain with his own bands from 1925 to 1933, then worked with Herb Flemming, Leon Abbey, and Teddy Weatherford thereafter. He recorded again in southeast Asia with a group called the Symphonians. Around 1943 he returned to New York, where he died late in 1947.

References

• Rainer E. Lotz, "Crickett Smith". The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. 2nd edition, ed. Barry Kernfeld, 2004.