Happy 84th Birthday, Huey "Piano" Smith
Huey Pierce Smith
Huey Pierce Smith, known as
Piano Smith (born January 26, 1934, New Orleans, Louisiana), is an American rhythm-and-blues pianist whose sound was influential in the development of rock and roll.
His piano playing incorporated the boogie styles of Pete Johnson, Meade Lux Lewis, and Albert Ammons, the jazz style of Jelly Roll Morton and the rhythm-and-blues style of Fats Domino. AllMusic journalist Steve Huey noted that "At the peak of his game, Smith epitomized New Orleans R&B at its most infectious and rollicking, as showcased on his classic signature tune, 'Don't You Just Know It.'"
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You know the song: "You got me rockin' when I ought to be rollin'." Take it away.......
Don't You Just Know It by Huey 'Piano' Smith 1958
jukejointjohnny48
53.2K subscribers
10,733 views May 11, 2014
He also did:
Rockin' Pneumonia & The Boogie Woogie Flu - Huey "Piano" Smith 1957 Pts 1&2
60s70sTheBest
26.6K subscribers
63,660 views May 20, 2016
This is the original recording of "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" by Huey "Piano" Smith and The Clowns in 1957. It was a breakout Top Five R&B hit, and despite becoming an early rock & roll standard classic, it didn't make the Pop Top 40 thanks to reticent white radio programmers. Part 2 (B side) of the single is an instrumental version of Part 1. In his biography, Smith admits that he heard Chuck Berry sing I got the rocking pneumonia, I need a shot of rhythm and blues in his 1956 Roll over Beethoven and was inspired to use the phrase and added the boogie woogie flu himself. Huey was an important part of the great New Orleans piano tradition, and took his place among the Crescent City's R&B elite such as Fats Domino. Smith was also one of R&B's great comedians, although his taste often ran more towards nonsense lyrics, and his sound was too "earthy" to match the Pop crossover appeal which limited his exposure.