Have you heard of Andrew Smith? Do you know why he was considered a superb drummer? You may be surprised how other musicians viewed him. Take the "information trip with me." Let's find out together.
ANDREW L. SMITH KNOWS HOW TO KEEP THAT BEAT
The button above describes how many musicians described Drummer Andrew Smith. Research revealed a guy named Ralph said: " To those of us fortunate enough to know Andrew, we knew him not only as a bad ass drummer, but the sweetest guy you could ever meet." What a tribute from a fellow musician! Who was this guy? How did he earn such a description? This rendition of "Midnight Train to Georgia" could shed some light on the question.
While I am not sure Andrew is the bad--guy playing the drums in the 1973 "Midnight Train to Georgia," but from the beat we hear, it is easy to assume he is. Listening to it makes you sway your body and pat your foot. Wow! Let's talk about Andrew a bit.
Andrew L. Smith & Motown
I was not able to verify when Drummer Smith was born, but I have enough information he was born in Detroit. From 1968 t0 1972, he played with Motown and is considered one of the Funk Brothers. Research also reveals he composed and sang a song with "Friends" called You Come into My Life. When he presented it to Berry Gordy, our resources indicate he was told to just continue to be a drummer.
What Sister Joetter Says About Brother Andrew Smith:
Andrew L smith died April 27,2000 around 1pm in the afternoon in a Catholic hospital in East Brunswick, New Jersey.
He had over 20 years in a successful career in the music industry on the east coast where he played drums, arranged, composed and produced music. He even had a host of hit records to his credits even some Grammys and gold records.
Not everyone knew that his first beats were on a little tom-tom that our parents brought back from a trip. When my father's cousin's husband, a professional drummer, saw Andrew's interest in the drums. He gave Andrew his first pair of drumsticks, practice pad, and later a snare drum.
Music Instruction
His formal instruction started with George Wilson at Roosevelt Elem. Irwin Klocko at Durfree Jr High. Fred Bolt at Central High.
During elementary school and part of Jr. High he took private lessons and was headed toward classical music. Until one day we met a postman delivering a country ham from relatives in Tennessee. This meeting changed his life forever.
Meeting Charlie Bannister took him full circle. Taking lessons from Charlie Bannister laid the foundations for what later would allow him to realize his dreams of a successful musical career.
Charlie Bannister had a drum shop where the top entertainers would come in town to rehearse before there gig in town (the Jazz Crusaders and others). This exposure was awesome.
Under the guidance of Charlie Bannister's, at the age of 13, he and some other young musicians formed a group call the Quintet Plus. They recorded their version of Shop Around. They played for sock hops around town and talent shows. Later the group performed often on the Robin Seymour Show in Canada.
At Central High School, band director Fred Boldt gave Andrew freedom to arrange some of the tunes for the stage band. I'm sure Fred Boldt didn't have any idea then that years later that Andrew would hire him for some sessions.
The Discovery
It was at Central High School that Andrew was discovered by Motown in his senior year. He told me years later that it wasn't easy being accepted by the group. They watched for a while to see if he had what it took to be there. When that time of acceptance came, he felt that the group took him under wing. Being the youngest in the group, they gave him valuable lessons he later took with him to the east coast after Motown moved to the west coast.
Years later, Andrew would recall stories about the musician friends he had made along the way. There are a couple I keep in contact with. They are Bob Babbit and Ed Wolfrum. You guys are great!
You fellows don't let Andrew's memory die. God Bless you for that.
While in New Jersey, he studied and graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor's Degree in Music and in Journalism. Just another accomplishment to be added to a list of many.
When my mother and I were at the funeral home in Detroit, making arrangements. A tune came over the radio. I told the lady helping us, that the person we were making the arrangments for ( my brother) played the drums on that record we were listening to. To console both of us , she remarked that he may have passed on but his music would never die.
His Music Lives On
It is true, I now turn on the radio and there he is, in his beat, it's all his.
I want to thank Babbit for telling me about www.soulfuldetroit.com last June. I have followed the different threads from time to time.
Thanks to all of Andrew's friends and fellow musicians for keeping his name alive. I have learned so much by coming on this site. This is history.
Joetter
Andrew L. Smith is an unsung Motown musician. His skills as a drummer are etched in the hearts of those who knew and unearthed in the minds of those who discovered him. This writer did not know him but am honored to celebrate him. He worked with Motown greats like: The Four Tops, The Temptations, Spinners, Marvin Gaye, Dennis Coffey and others. We will remember him as one of "The Unsung Musicians of the Motown Empire."
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