HUEY "PIANO" SMITH,
1934-2023

Huey “Piano” Smith, the influential New Orleans pianist whose late-1950s records fused humor and innuendo with a rumba beat, died in his sleep Monday (2/13) at his home in Baton Rouge, La. He was 89.

Known for “Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu” and the call-and-response classic “Don’t You Just Know It,” Smith and his “Mardi Gras sound” formed the bedrock of New Orleans R&B—alongside Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew—that would influence early rock & roll.

Dr. John, a Smith protégé, credited him with introducing funk to the mainstream. Citing the keyboardist's originality, legendary Big Easy producer Allen Toussaint noted that Smith was one of the very few New Orleans pianists whose style bore no trace of Professor Longhair.

Over the last six decades, Smith’s music has been performed and recorded by the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Aerosmith, The Grateful Dead, Paul Simon, The Neville Brothers and Toussaint.

Johnny Rivers had an international hit with "Rockin' Pneumonia" in 1973. It peaked at #6 in the U.S., spending 19 weeks on the chart, the longest stay of any of his hits.

Starting as a teenager, Smith played regularly at the renowned Dew Drop Inn, eventually partnering with Eddie “Guitar Slim” Jones. He was also a session pianist at Cosimo Matassa’s recording studio, backing Little Richard, Lloyd Price and others.

After “Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu” hit #5 on the R&B chart in 1957, he formed The Clowns to record and tour, using an assortment of lead singers.

Follow-up “Don’t You Just Know It” rose to #9 on the pop chart. Unfortunately, Smith's subsequent release, “Sea Cruise,” was issued under the name of its singer, Frankie Ford, with Smith’s name—and vocals—erased. The record would go on to be a million-seller.

Smith thereafter left the Ace label for Imperial Records but had little additional chart success. His last notable recording was for Cotillion in 1972. He performed sporadically until leaving music following a 1981 gig at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

In 2000, Smith received the Pioneer Award from The Rhythm and Blues Foundation.