J. T. Smith (musician) facts for kids

John T. Smith (born between 1885 and 1890, or around 1910 – died possibly 1940, or 1979) was an American blues musician. He was a talented guitarist, singer, and songwriter. People knew him by several nicknames, like the Howling Wolf and "Funny Papa" Smith. Not much is known for sure about his life. He often played music on the streets in places like Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. He also performed at parties and special music spots called juke joints.

J. T. Smith released about ten songs under his own name. He also recorded music with other artists such as Bernice Edwards and Black Boy Shine. His most famous song was "Howling Wolf Blues," which he recorded in different versions. Many of his songs were not released when he first recorded them. However, you can now find all his recordings on special collections of music.

Who Was J. T. Smith?

J. T. Smith's exact birth date is not known for sure. Some people think he was born in the late 1880s in east Texas. Others believe he was born around 1910 in Bastrop County, Texas. His parents were Amos Smith and Hattie Webb.

Early Life and Music

Smith's first professional job was at the Lincoln Theater in New York City. In the 1920s, he got married. For most of that decade, he was a traveling musician. He moved around Texas and Oklahoma, playing music wherever he could. He often performed with other blues musicians like Thomas Shaw and Alger "Texas" Alexander. He also played in the Dallas area, but he never recorded music there.

His first recordings happened in Chicago in September 1930. His first song, "Howling Wolf Blues" (parts one and two), was released by Vocalion Records. Some people said his guitar was sometimes out of tune, even on his recordings. Thomas Shaw, a fellow musician, even said Smith was not the best guitar player. Smith called himself "Funny Papa," but his record company, Vocalion Records, accidentally called him "Funny Paper" Smith on his first releases. He recorded nearly twenty songs for Vocalion in 1930 and 1931. This included "Howling Wolf Blues," which gave him another nickname, "The Howling Wolf."

Smith was known for wearing a tall stovepipe hat. It even had "Funny Papa Smith" stitched on it. Between September 1930 and April 1935, he recorded forty-one songs. However, only about half of these were released at that time. During this period, he often performed with Thomas Shaw on weekends.

His Unique Music Style

People have compared J. T. Smith's music to that of Blind Lemon Jefferson, another famous blues musician. Smith's guitar playing was similar to other Texas guitarists of his time. What made him special was his song lyrics. They were very original and full of stories. Sometimes, his songs had so many words that he had to split them into two parts. This was because old records (called 78-rpm discs) could only hold about three minutes of music on each side.

The "Howling Wolf" Name

Sometimes, the record company called J. T. Smith "The Howlin Wolf." Later, a much more famous blues musician named Chester Burnett became known as Howlin' Wolf. Chester Burnett said he had heard of J. T. Smith. However, he stated that he did not get his famous nickname from J. T. Smith.

Later Years

In 1935, J. T. Smith recorded more songs for the Vocalion label in Fort Worth, Texas. These songs were not released at that time. He also recorded with other singers like Bernice Edwards and Black Boy Shine. He toured Texas with Alger "Texas" Alexander in 1939.

It has been reported that J. T. Smith died in 1940. However, some blues historians believe he lived longer, possibly until 1979. They suggest he may have died in Bastrop County, Texas.