Paul Thatcher Smith (April 17, 1922–June 29, 2013) was an American jazz pianist. He performed in various genres of jazz, most typically bebop, but is best known as an accompanist of singers, especially Ella Fitzgerald. Smith was born in San Diego, California to parents, Lon Smith and Constance Farmer, who were vaudeville performers and encouraged his interest in music. He began studying piano at age 8, and led a jazz band in high school and became a professional musician at 19 with the Johnny Richards band.
After playing with Richards in 1941 and spending 1943 to 1945 in the military, Smith worked with Les Paul (1946–1947) and Tommy Dorsey (1947–1949) before moving to Los Angeles and becoming a studio musician. Studio work took up much of his time : he worked as a staff musician for NBC and Warner Brothers, and for many years he was the musical director for Dinah Shore’s daytime talk show.
Smith recorded frequently both with his trios and as a soloist. In addition he is featured on work of artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Anita O'Day, Buddy DeFranco, Louie Bellson, Steve Allen, Stan Kenton, Mel Tormé and others. He was the musical director on The Steve Allen Comedy Hour television show in the 1960s.
Between 1956 and 1978, Smith was active as a conductor and pianist for Ella Fitzgerald, although he continued to work with her until the early 1990s.
He also worked on film scores and his playing can be heard on the soundtracks of They Shoot Horses, Don't They ? and Nickelodeon among some others.
Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Smith_(pianist)
Paul Smith
Quartet
Tracks
1 Wandering (Smith) 2:31
2 Out of Nowhere (Green, Heyman) 2:55
3 S'Wonderful (Gershwin, Gershwin) 2:39
4 Over The Rainbow (Arlen, Harburg) 3:59
5 The Great Lie (Smith) 2:25
6 Cupid Took Me For A Ride (Smith) 3:18
7 The Way You Look Tonight (Fields, Kern) 3:14
8 By The Fireside (Campbell, Connelly, Noble) 2:49
*
Personnel
Paul Smith - p
Tony Rizzi - g
Alvin Stoller - dr
Norm Seelig - b
Recorded in Los Angeles, California ; April 18, 1950