Lonnie Smith portrait

Lonnie Smith

Lonnie Smith is a popular Jazz artist.

Dr. Lonnie Smith (not to be confused with Lonnie Liston Smith) (July 3, 1942 – September 28, 2021) was born in Lackawanna, New York. His affinity for R&B melded with his own personal style, and he quickly became a local legend. He moved to New York City, where he met George Benson, the guitarist for Jack McDuff's band. Benson and Smith connected on a personal level, and the two formed the George Benson Quartet featuring Lonnie Smith in 1966. After two albums (It's Uptown and Cookbook) . Popular albums include "Mama Wailer" and "Turning Point".