OTIS " BIG SMOKEY " SMOTHERS

OTIS " Big Smokey " Smothers es el mayor de dos hermanos , el menor conocido como ABE " Little Smokey " llegaron a confundir a críticos y aficionados en más de una ocasión hasta el punto de que durante mucho tiempo no se sabía quién era cada uno a causa de este seudónimo compartido. Sin embargo estos dos dos excelente músicos poseen dos estilos muy diferentres , sin duda fiel reflejo de su diferencia de edad. Otis ( 21-3-1929  y Abe 2-1-1939 ) esos diez años influyeron también en sus gustos musicales. Big Smokey , el mayor conservaba muchos rasgos del blues del Delta de su infancia. Cuando nació el pequeño Abe ( el futuro Little ) Otis ya tocaba la guitarra en cenas campestres y bodas , cantando con esa voz ahumada que hizo que fuera conocido con el apodo de Smokey . No fué hasta 1946 que llegaría a Chicago para integrarse de pleno en le incipiente escena del nuevo blues eléctrico de la ciudad. Tocó con Hound Dog Taylor entre otros.... hasta convertirse en una figura conocida en el mercadillo de Maxwell Street , entró aformar parte de la banda de MUDDY WATERS para tocar con posterioridad con HOWLIN' WOLF , con el cual grabaría en diferentes ocasiones, hasta llegó a tocar el bajo en la banda de Bo Diddley . Fué en el periodo de 1960 a 1962 que debutó como leader grabando con el sello Federal. Uno de sus referentes fué Jimmy Reed. 

   

01 - I Can't Judge Nobody

02 - Come On Rock, Little Girl

03 - Honey I Ain't Teasin'

04 - You're Gonna Be Sorry

05 - (What I Done For You) Give It Back

06 - Smokey's Love Sick Blues

07 - I've Been Drinking Muddy Water

08 - Crying Tears

09 - Midnight And Day

10 - Blind And Dumb Man Blues

11 - What Am I Going To Do

12 - I Ain't Gonna Be No Monkey Man No More

13 - The Case Is Closed

14 - Way Up In The Mountains Of Kentucky

15 - Hello Little School Girl

16 - Twist With Me Annie

17 - I've Been Drinking Muddy Water [Alternate Take]

18 - Blind And Dumb Man Blues [Take 1]

19 - Honey I Ain't Teasin' [Take 2]

20 - Smokey's Love Sick Blues [Take 1]

21 - Come On Rock, Little Girl [Alt Incomplete Take]

22 - Midnight And Day [Excerpt][Take 1, Incomplete]

23 - (What I Done For You) Give It Back [Take 1]

24 - I Ain't Gonna Be No Monkey Man No More [Take 2]

25 - You're Gonna Be Sorry [Take 1]

              Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers (March 21, 1929 – July 23, 1993) was an African American, Chicago blues guitarist and singer. He was once a member of Howlin' Wolf's backing band, and worked variously with Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Bo Diddley, Ike Turner, J. T. Brown, Freddie King, Little Johnny Jones, Little Walter, and Willie Dixon. His younger brother, Abe (born Albert, January 2, 1939 – November 20, 2010), became known as the bluesman Little Smokey Smothers, with whom he is sometimes confused.

Smothers was born in Lexington, Mississippi, and was taught by his aunt to play both harmonica and guitar. Smothers relocated to Chicago in 1946, and his debut stage performance occurred with Johnny Williams and Johnny "Man" Young. In the early part of the 1950s, Smothers played alongside his own cousin Lester Davenport, plus Arthur "Big Boy" Spires, Earl Hooker, Henry Strong, and Bo Diddley.

In 1956 and 1957, Howlin' Wolf invited Smothers to play as his rhythm guitarist on several Chess tracks, including "Who's Been Talking," "Tell Me," "Change My Way," "Goin' Back Home," "The Natchez Burning," and "I Asked For Water." Smothers secured a recording contract with Federal Records in August 1960. With Sonny Thompson as his record producer, and Freddie King on lead guitar, Smothers saw the resultant album, Smokey Smothers Sings the Backporch Blues released in 1962. Another four track session followed, including "Twist With Me Annie", a reworked version of "Work with Me, Annie." As a part-time member of Muddy Waters' backing band, Smothers also cut "I Got My Eyes on You," in 1968.

Smothers help to form the Muddy Waters Junior Band in the late 1950s, as tribute to Muddy Waters. While Muddy Waters was on the road, Smothers and company would hold down Muddy's regular residency gigs in Chicago, performing Muddy's material and serving as a training ground for potential future members of Waters' own band, which both he and fellow 'Junior' band member George "Mojo" Buford eventually joined.

The 1970s were a lean time for Smothers, but he finally returned to recording in 1986, when Red Beans Records issued his album, Got My Eyes On You. His backing band were billed as The Ice Cream Men, a nod to Smothers working as an ice cream vendor back in the 1950s.

Smothers wrote songs for Muddy Waters, and has a catalogue of songs to his credit including his, "I've Been Drinking Muddy Water","Ain't Gon Be No Monkey Man", and "Can't Judge Nobody."

Latterly suffering from heart disease, Smothers died in Chicago at the age of 64, in July 1993.

A daughter is currently in process of bringing the brothers, Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers and younger brother Abe "Little Smokey" Smothers, life story to the big screen.Smothers is survived by wife, Earline Smothers, his sons, daughters, five brothers and sisters, and extended family.