Johnny "Hammond" Smith

Bio

Johnny “Hammond” Smith was an American jazz organist and pianist born in 1933 in Louisville, Kentucky. He rose to prominence in the 1960s soul-jazz scene, recording for Prestige and later Milestone. Known for his blues-inflected Hammond B-3 playing and funky grooves, he collaborated with artists such as Houston Person, Gene Ammons, and Grover Washington Jr. Smith released over twenty albums as a leader, including the notable Soul Talk and The Prophet, and remained active until his death in 1997.