As a teenager, he was introduced to the Hammond organ and began immersing himself in the records of Wild Bill Davis, Bill Doggett, and Jimmy Smith. Smith was born in Buffalo, New York on 3 July 1942 and inherited a love of gospel, blues, and jazz music from his mother. A celebration of his life and music will be planned in New York City.
His death was confirmed by his manager, Holly Case, and the cause was pulmonary fibrosis. Dr Lonnie Smith, Hammond organ legend and NEA Jazz Master, has died at the age of 79 at his home in Ft Lauderdale, Florida.
