Byther Claude Earl John Smith (April 17, 1932 – September 10, 2021)[1][2] was an American blues musician[3] who worked with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Otis Rush and Junior Wells.[4]
Born in Monticello, Mississippi, United States, Smith's early music experiences revolved around gospel music.[4] Orphaned, Smith was brought up by his uncle and aunt.[5] In his teenage years he moved to Arizona to work on a cattle ranch and played in a country and western band on weekends.[4] He worked in construction and local farmhands taught him to play the double bass.[5] Around this time Smith showed an interest in boxing, so his aunt bought Smith an electric bass guitar to encourage him to follow a musical path instead.[5]
Smith migrated to Chicago in the mid-1950s with his wife, Etta Mae.[5] In the early 1960s he began performing in clubs, learning guitar from J. B. Lenoir (his first cousin who had encouraged him to migrate[5]), Robert Lockwood, Jr., and Hubert Sumlin.[3] He worked regularly as rhythm guitarist for Otis Rush.[5] During this period he recorded a number of singles with labels such as Bea & Baby, Cruise and Apex but in 1965 returned to his gospel roots with a group called the Gospel Travellers.[4] In the 1970s he joined the house band at Theresa’s Tavern where he worked for five years, often playing with Junior Wells.[4][5] In 1974 he recorded various tracks with Sunnyland Slim for Slim's later album 'She Got A Thing Goin' On'.[6] In the late 1970s, Smith toured with the likes of Big Mama Thornton and George "Harmonica" Smith.[5]
After years playing in clubs all over the world, a demo tape Smith recorded became the album Tell Me How You Like It, released by the Texas-based Grits record label. His next release in the United Kingdom was Addressing the Nation with the Blues for JSP Records.[7] In 1995, Smith retired from his job at Economy Folding Box Company after twenty-five years, allowing him to focus fully on music.[citation needed] Smith retired from touring in 2015.[6]
Delmark Records boss Bob Koester observed, "There's a mellowness there that is disappearing in all but B.B. King".[7]
Byther Smith died in Chicago on September 10, 2021, aged 89.[8]