Kester Smith

Kester Smith
Smith in 2018
Background information
Born	Granada
Origin	Trinidad
Died	(2024-01-15)January 15, 2024 Saint Helena, California
Genres	Jazz blues world
Occupation	Percussionist

Kester Winston "Smitty" Smith was an American percussionist. Born in Granada and raised from a young age in Trinidad, he was the drummer for the Taj Mahal Trio and collaborated with jazz, blues and world musicians. ^{[1] [2]} He performed with and alongside Taj Mahal for over forty years. ^[3] He recorded music with Taj Mahal, Geoff Muldaur, Peter Rowan, Cedella Booker, Morgan Freeman, Ellen McIlwaine, Mary Coughlan and Pinetop Perkins. ^[4]

Selected discography

• Taj Mahal, Mo' Roots, Columbia Records, 1974. ^[5]
• Taj Mahalm Music Fuh Ya' (Musica Para Tu)
• Taj Mahal, Big Blues: Live at Ronnie Scott, Silverline Records, 1991 ^[6]
• Taj Mahal, Mule Bone, Gramavision, 1991 ^[7]
• Geoff Muldaur, Secret Handshake, HighTone Records, 1998 ^[8]
• Taj Mahal, Sugar Mama Blues, Just a Memory Records, 2004 ^[9]
• Taj Mahal, Maestro, Telarc, 2008 ^[10]
• Taj Mahal, Swingin' Live at the Church in Tulsa , Lightning Rod Records, 2024

Death

Smith died surrounded by family, in his adopted hometown of St. Helena, California on January 15, 2024. ^[11]

References

1. Britt, Grant. "Taj Mahal Review - Raleigh, NC 2-18-12". Blogs. No Depression. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
2. Hayden, Mark. "Taj Mahal is tale of blues legend". Arts & Entertainment. The Durango Herald. Archived from the original on 26 June 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
3. Penn, Roberta. "Global sounds inspire Taj Mahal". News. Star News. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
4. "Kester Smith". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
5. "Mo' Roots". Dead Disc. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
6. "Taj Mahal - Big Blues: Live at Ronnie Scott Audio CD". CD Universe. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
7. "Taj Mahal - Mule Bone Audio CD". CD Universe. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
8. "Secret Handshake". Dead Disc. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
9. "Taj Mahal - Sugar Mama Blues Audio CD". CD Universe. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
10. "Maestro". CD Universe. Retrieved 6 January 2013.
11. "Kester "Smitty" Smith". Napa Valley Register . Napa, CA: Lee Enterprises, Inc. March 14, 2024. Retrieved March 14, 2024.