Talk:Jimmy Smith (musician)

Birth year
Apparently there's some controversy over his birth date.   This article is amusing since it says he died at 76, yet goes on to list his birth year as 1925. They must've pulled from two different sources and not fact-checked.  – flamurai (t) 06:43, Feb 10, 2005 (UTC)

His biography at Blue Note has 1925. – flamurai (t) 06:48, Feb 10, 2005 (UTC)


 * His Find-A-Grave entry says 1928. Lincher 23:56, 13 March 2006 (UTC)

This obituary from the Independent mentions him being age 9 during 1935, corroborating the 1925 birthdate.

Washington Post and the Guardian both say he died at age 76, suggesting the 1928 birthdate.The Boston Globe says 79 however. Anybody have any thoughts on how to get proper verification of which date is correct? Tin Man 20:34, 6 September 2006 (UTC)


 * I have another reliable source that cites 1925, but clearly there is no concensus amongst them. I believe in these circumstances that Wikipedia should acknowledge the confusion, quote both alternatives, and give the conflicting sources to let the reader decide.  I have taken the liberty of editing accordingly.

My view is it's 1928. I've been researching Jimmy for an upcoming piece, and believe this to be the best source. 1. It's Philadelphia, Al Hunter Jr had access to family members. It also matches the NY Times version where BenRatliff talked to his son who said his age was 76, based on his birth certificate.

I'd be happy to make the changes to say that Smith was born in 1928, confusion from his label meant his birth date is often listed as 1925. Smith was 76 when he died. An provide a ref. based on the following.

"Deceased Name: Jimmy Smith services on Thursday Philadelphia Daily News (PA) - February 15, 2005 Author/Byline: Al Hunter Jr. Edition: 4STARSection: LOCALPage: 29 Services for Jimmy Smith, considered the world's greatest jazz organist, will be noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Deliverance Baptist Church, 21st Street and Lehigh Avenue. Viewing will be from 8 a.m. to noon.

He will be buried in Merion Memorial Park, 59 W. Rockhill Road, Bala Cynwyd. A jam session in Smith 's honor will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Philadelphia Clef Club, Broad and Fitzwater streets.

Musicians are urged to bring their instruments and send Jimmy off in style.

Because of incorrect information from Smith 's record label, a story of appreciation in last Thursday's Daily News included a wrong location for the service and an incorrect age for the late organist. According to his daughter, Jia, Smith was born in 1928 not 1925, making him 76 when he died of natural causes Feb. 8 in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Survivors include a son, James O. Smith Jr., and two other daughters, Constance Perez and Karen Jackson. Letters of condolence can be sent in care of the Smith Family to Box 115, Layfayette Hill, PA. 19444."--Cathcam (talk) 01:26, 28 February 2021 (UTC)


 * Derek R Bullamore (talk) 11:55, 6 March 2011 (UTC)

Minor rant
None of the edits made to this page since May 2011 have included an edit summary. Here's a gentle reminder that they are really helpful and highly recommended. Thanks! Janus303 (talk) 20:14, 25 October 2011 (UTC)

Incident with Keith Emerson
Would it be appropriate to include mention of Jimmy Smith's encounter(s) with Keith Emerson, especially the second one, where Smith assaulted Emerson's manhood, as it were? - AppleBsTime (talk) 04:49, 26 May 2020 (UTC)
 * Since nobody objected, I've gone ahead and added it. The story is too rich to pass up. - AppleBsTime (talk) 15:03, 27 June 2020 (UTC)
 * "Richness" isn't why we're here. You would like TV or Farcebook.Vmavanti (talk) 12:46, 28 February 2021 (UTC)

Discography
TlonicChronic (talk) 17:49, 8 January 2024 (UTC)


 * I reordered the major releases by release year and added catalogue numbers. It gets a little iffy at the end, so it needs a little reordering and possibly resorting (label-wise).
 * This is a pretty large discography—it feels like it deserves it's own page to me TlonicChronic (talk) 17:50, 8 January 2024 (UTC)
 * @TlonicChronic Please change the discogs citations on that page, WP:DISCOGS can't be used as a source. Mach61 (talk) 17:41, 11 January 2024 (UTC)
 * I didn't add the discogs sources, I only added AllMusic and JazzDisco. If you want to remove them that's okay by me! TlonicChronic (talk) 17:42, 11 January 2024 (UTC)