Alma Smith Passes

BY LARS BJORN AND JIM GALLERT

Mary (Alma) Foster Smith died Sunday, May 6, 2012. She was born in Montgomery, Alabama, on May 15, 1922, but was raised on the North End in Detroit. Her mother played the piano and encouraged all her children to play an instrument. Alma majored in music at Cass Tech and, after school, she played piano in a big band called King’s Aces where she replaced the legendary Willie Anderson. This gave Alma an opportunity to play with rising stars like tenorist Lucky Thompson.

Around 1944 she went on the road with The Counts and Countess, where she was the Countess and guitarist Johnny Fair and bassist Curtis Wilder were the Counts. From Cleveland they made their way to Los Angeles where they were based for four years. Alma played piano and vibraphone with the group and recorded for two L.A. labels as well as four “soundies” (short films).

Back in Detroit in the late forties she played with Rudy Rutherford (clarinet) at the Parrot Lounge. She was married to bassist Paul Foster, Willie Anderson’s bassist, for a few years. In the early fifties she moved to Cleveland and played mostly as a single, but added the Hammond organ to her skill set.

Alma also had the chance to play with top of the line performers like tenorist Eddie Lockjaw Davis and singer Lou Rawls before moving back to Detroit in 1964. Back home she had long engagements at the Rhinoceros Club (1979–94) and Sweet Lorraine’s (1992–2007). Her frequent companions included bassists Will Austin and Al Martin and drummer Bert Myrick. She recorded with a quintet which included trumpeter Herbie Williams.

Alma also became active as a jazz educator. She worked in the Detroit Public Schools for fifteen years and was the mentor of many young musicians, including bassist Rodney Whitaker, with whom she recorded. Alma was a regular member of Vincent York’s “Jazzistry” group which tells the story of jazz more through performances than lectures. She received the Legends of Jazz International award in 1995 and the SEMJA Award in 2006.

Her health had declined over the last several years, and she became forgetful, to the point where she could no longer gig. The death of her longtime friend Bert Myrick in 2010 really affected Alma; they were very close, personally and musically.

We had the privilege of becoming good friends of Alma’s and miss her very much. Her personal philosophy is summed up in one of her many compositions, “Time Won’t Stop and Change Keeps On Coming,” the essence of which is: Trust your feelings, believe in yourself, take advantage of your opportunities.
Alma leaves behind many friends and admirers, and we will remember her smile, her warmth, and those wonderful stories she told. You can remember Alma by following this link to the Vocal Group Harmony website where you can hear the Counts And Countess.