Charlie Smith

Charlie Smith (April 15, 1927 in New York City – January 15, 1966 in New Haven), was an American jazz drummer.

Smith played locally in New York in the late 1940s before taking a position accompanying Ella Fitzgerald. He worked briefly with the Duke Ellington's Orchestra in 1951 before being replaced by Louie Bellson, and also played with Joe Bushkin, Erroll Garner, Slim Gaillard, Benny Goodman, Hot Lips Page, Oscar Peterson, Artie Shaw, and Slam Stewart. He performed on television with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker in 1952, and later in the 1950s worked with Billy Taylor, Aaron Bell, and Wild Bill Davison. He relocated to New Haven around 1960, where he played with Willie Ruff and Dwike Mitchell in a trio setting. He also worked as an educator late in life.

Smith co-wrote, with Thomas Vaughan, "A Jazz Liturgy" for Yale Divinity School. He died of a kidney infection.

Birth and Death Data: Born New York City (most populous city in the United States), Died January 15, 1966 (New Haven (city in Connecticut, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1937 - 1957

Roles Represented in DAHR: drums, leader

Notes: Leader of Demerara Lucky Strike Orchestra.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 32 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-06269 10-in. 3/2/1937 The capture of the Girl Pat Demerara Lucky Strike Orchestra ; Bill Rogers ; Charlie Smith Re-recording : Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-06270 10-in. 3/2/1937 The return of Smithie Demerara Lucky Strike Orchestra ; Bill Rogers ; Charlie Smith Re-recording : Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-06271 10-in. 3/2/1937 The hungry man Demerara Lucky Strike Orchestra ; Bill Rogers ; Charlie Smith Re-recording : Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-06272 10-in. 3/2/1937 The rajah lost Demerara Lucky Strike Orchestra ; Bill Rogers ; Charlie Smith Re-recording : Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-06273 10-in. 3/2/1937 Landlords and the rent Demerara Lucky Strike Orchestra ; Bill Rogers ; Charlie Smith Re-recording : Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-06274 10-in. 3/2/1937 Bill Rogers in U.S.A. Demerara Lucky Strike Orchestra ; Bill Rogers ; Charlie Smith Re-recording : Male vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia CO40526 10-in. 3/15/1949 The egg or the hen Hot Lips Page Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia CO40527 10-in. 3/15/1949 I got an uncle in Harlem Hot Lips Page Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia CO40528 10-in. 3/15/1949 Cheatie Bo Joe Hot Lips Page ; Sam Theard Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia CO40529 10-in. 3/15/1949 Don't tell a man about his woman Hot Lips Page Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia CO47862 10-in. 4/23/1952 Lonesome and blue Howard Biggs' Orchestra ; Annie Laurie Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia CO47863 10-in. 4/23/1952 It's been a long long time Howard Biggs' Orchestra ; Annie Laurie Female vocal solo, with instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia CO48457 10-in. 10/8/1952 Just want your love Big Maybelle ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia CO48458 10-in. 10/8/1952 So good to my baby Big Maybelle ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia CO48459 10-in. 10/8/1952 Gabbin' blues Big Maybelle ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Columbia CO48460 10-in. 10/8/1952 My country man Big Maybelle ; Leroy Kirkland Orchestra Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, drums  
Atlantic 244 10-in. 7/20/1949 Flamingo Erroll Garner instrumentalist, drums  
Atlantic 248 10-in. 7/20/1949 Twilight Erroll Garner instrumentalist, drums  
Mercury 2950 10-in. 8/23/1949 Remember Erroll Garner Trio ; Johnny Hartman instrumentalist, drums  
Mercury 2951 10-in. 8/23/1949 Easy to remember Erroll Garner ; Johnny Hartman instrumentalist, drums  
Mercury 2952 10-in. 8/23/1949 September in the rain Erroll Garner Trio ; Johnny Hartman instrumentalist, drums  
Mercury 2953 10-in. 8/23/1949 Home Erroll Garner ; Johnny Hartman instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76732 8/15/1950 I'll never be free Ella Fitzgerald instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76843 9/13/1950 Autumn leaves Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
Decca 76844 9/13/1950 White Christmas Artie Shaw Orchestra instrumentalist, drums  
(Results 1-25 of 32 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Smith, Charlie," accessed January 3, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107251.

Smith, Charlie. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 3, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107251.

"Smith, Charlie." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 3 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107251

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