Tab Smith
| Tab Smith | |
|---|---|
Tab Smith in New York between 1946 and 1948
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Talmadge Smith |
| Born |
January 11, 1909 Kinston, North Carolina |
| Died | August 17, 1971 (aged 62) St. Louis, Missouri |
| Genres | Swing & rhythm and blues |
| Instruments | Alto saxophone |
| Years active | 1929–early 1960s |
| Labels | United Records |
| Associated acts |
Lucky Millinder Count Basie |
Talmadge "Tab" Smith (January 11, 1909 – August 17, 1971), was an American swing and rhythm and blues alto saxophonist. He is best known for the tracks, "Because Of You" and "Pretend". He variously worked with Count Basie, the Mills Rhythm Boys and Lucky Millinder.
Smith was born in Kinston, North Carolina, United States. He joined his first professional band, the Carolina Stompers, in 1929. In the 1930s and 1940s he spent several years in the bands of Lucky Millinder and Count Basie, as well as spending long periods freelancing both as a player and as an arranger. In 1944 he participated in a recording date led by Coleman Hawkins, for which he also arranged the material. After the Second World War he led his own groups, which concentrated on rhythm and blues as jazz turned from swing to bop.
His biggest R&B hit was "Because of You", which reached number 1 on the US Billboard R&B chart, and number 20 on the pop chart, in 1951. "Because of You" was made for United Records, a label for which Smith recorded prolifically until it closed in 1957. Tab Smith put out 24 singles and a 10-inch album for the label. On his United sides, Smith sometimes played tenor saxophone.
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