BIG BAD SMITTY

John Henry Smith, better known as Big Bad Smitty (February 11, 1940 – April 3, 2002) was an American blues guitar player and singer. Born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States, he started learning guitar at the age of ten. He would play his older brother Nelson's guitar when nobody was around.

When he was in his 20's he worked as a truck driver. Johnny Vincent of Ace Records had recorded him and two of his songs, "Smokestack Lightnin'" and "How Many More Years" appeared on the Genuine Mississippi Blues anthology on the Ace label in 1970.

He recorded the Mean Disposition album in 1991,which was released on the Black Magic label in Europe and the GENES label in the United States.He recorded three albums and appeared at European blues festivals, performing for large crowds. In 1993, Smitty was affected by a stroke.

He died in Jackson, Mississippi on April 3, 2002, as a result of diabetes. His funeral was held on Saturday, April 13 at the Alpha Omega Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi.

A benefit concert was held for the family of Big Bad Smitty at BB's in St Louis.

Artist Biography by Linda Seida in allmusic 

Big Bad Smitty, whose real name is John Henry Smith, is a Mississippi guitarist in the style of Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. During his youth, Smitty played in the region of Greenville with Roosevelt "Booba" Barnes, a friend from school. The pair established a band and also played gigs in Arkansas. Smitty settled in Jackson, MS, and drove a truck for a living when he was in his twenties. The local blues scene afforded him the opportunity to play with musicians such as King Mose, Sam Myers, King Edward, and John Littlejohn. He recorded for Ace Records' Johnny Vincent, whose stable of talent included Huey "Piano" Smith and Frankie "Sea Cruise" Ford. Some of Smitty's recordings can be found on a reissue of Ace's Genuine Mississippi Blues, which was originally released in 1970. The guitarist relocated to St. Louis, where he hooked up with Big George Brock, Little Weaver & the Dynamite, and Bennie Smith. After heading home to Mississippi, he formed Big Bad Smitty & the Upsetters. JCE released his St. Louis on a High Hill album during the '80s. During the early '90s, Black Magic put out Mean Disposition in Europe. Aim Records released it in Australia, while Genes put it on the market in the U.S. An appearance at the Holland festival known as Blues Estafette followed, with Smitty touring Italy and Switzerland in 1992. The following year, Smitty again toured Italy and Switzerland, throwing in stops in Germany. He also played England's Burnley National Blues Festival, Belgium's Handzame Blues Festival, Arkansas' King Biscuit Blues Festival, and the Chicago Blues Festival. Also in 1993, the guitarist performed at Iowa's Mississippi Valley Blues Festival and Australia's East Coast Blues Festival. Upon returning home, the guitarist was waylaid by a stroke.