Floyd Smith

Jazz guitarist Floyd Smith covered much stylistic territory in his long and active career that began in the 1930s. His entry to guitar was a ukulele, and after he switched instruments, he studied music theory in high school. During the late '30s, the guitarist was a member of the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra and the Sunset Royal Orchestra as well as an outfit known as the Brown Skin Models. Before and after he served overseas in the second World War, Smith also played with bandleader Andy Kirk. Smith began leading his own groups, usually small configurations such as trios. The step...