Roger Smith

b. 1945, Dallas, Texas, USA. Smith was encouraged from an early age to take music lessons. Growing up in the rural area of central California where his parents were sharecroppers, he began studying piano although he was primarily self-taught. In the 60s, he served in the army, training as a medic. He continued to play music, forming a blues band, Blind Melon. Sitting in with blues artist Freddie King, whose regular piano player had failed to turn up for a club date, led to a job on Smith's release from the army. He toured with King and then played with various other artists of...