International Blues singer, songwriter, producer and performer.
Written by L. M. Land with James Bryant
Smith’s album, ‘Everybody needs love’ is available from Apple music. Copyright: 2009 B&J Records.
Singer/song writer James D. Smith (JD) was “the unparalleled master of hardcore Southern soul grooves,” according to southernsoulmb.com.
Smith made Flint his home after finishing high school in Arkansas. As a young man, he did many jobs. He began delivering milk to Flint schools as a truck driver for McDonald Dairy and stayed for about 30 years. A song he wrote was inspired by that time: “The milk man will deliver”
According to Musician James Bryant, many contemporary artists are still singing songs that Smith wrote.
Smith wrote music for many Southern soul mainstream artists such as Grammy Award Winner Johnny Taylor, Queen of the Blues Denise LaSalle, Tyrone Davis, Maurice Davis, Mel Waiters, Karen Wolfe, Terry Wright, Bobbie Rogers, Al Green and “too many others to name,” according to Bryant.
Like many Black musicians, Smith toured in what was known as the Chitlin’ Circuit, venues throughout the Eastern, Southern, and Upper Midwest areas of the United States which welcomed African-American entertainers from the 1930s through the 1970s. Other well-known performers on the Chitlin’Circuit were Bobby Rush and Denise LaSalle.
Bryant recalled that “James could write a song at the drop of a hat.”
He added: “James used to call me while he was sitting up in the milk truck, he said ‘man I’m around from your house, man…I got an idea. Why don’t you come around here?’ And I would go around to the school. We’re sittin’ up in the milk truck and he said, ‘Man, I got this tune in my head!’
“He couldn’t play any instruments, but he would have the tune…He could hum any tune that you wanted. He could tell you every part that he wanted. And he couldn’t play that instrument, but he knew what he wanted that instrument to sound like.”
Bryant said Smith was “one of the best to ever be able to write that way.”
He added: “And he would tell me, he said, ‘listen, what you think about this? What kind of bass line would you put in?’ And I would tell him, and he’d say yeah! Yeah, that’s it! He said that’s it, that completes the rest of it!
“I want the guitar to sound like this, and he would hum it out. He said, I want that drum beat to be like this and he would do that. James was amazing.
“And dance! My Lord! James Smith danced like James Brown; he entertained like James Brown. And that’s why those guys, those drummers he had, Dixon and Count, they were ready when James Brown took them [as drummers for his shows]. It was like Smith groomed them for Brown. Actually, at that time Smith was doing a James Brown show. He was mimicking James Brown all the way!”
Brown had even thanked Smith for teaching the drummers the style of music and performing he did.
In the early 70s, Smith performed as The James Smith Show, as an independent artist. He could be heard at Flint night clubs such as Papa’s Bag, Casa Blanca and The 50 Grand, as well as the 20 Grand in Detroit.
“That started James becoming a noticed artist. He began doing big shows. When Johnny Taylor passed away, James took over the tour,” said Bryant.
Smith then became the lead singer for the band Music Extravaganza later in the 70s. Gardell Haralson was the keyboard player. Music Extravaganza “graced the stage along with Prince and the Minneapolis Genius” (later known as Prince and the Time), “and opened for Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, Al Green, James Brown and Sarah Vaughn to name a few.
“Around the same time, Smith started recording as an independent artist at local studios, namely Daryl Hardy’s Lighter Touch Productions, Arnold Moore Studio and Simeo Overall Studio and others. His songs ‘Play on it’ and ‘Mr. Lover Man’ started creating a buzz. The recording band at the time was James Bryant, Kevin Collins, Tim Tinker and Daryl Hardy.
“Then the B & J label signed Smith on as their artist and song writer. The label was later known as Coday Record Label, which was begun by his cousin, Bill Coday and his wife Anna, who is originally from Flint.
“We would back [Anna’s] artists for the northern tours…Anna would hire The S Band to back her performers.” Bryant explained.“That is how James Smith and The S Band became the go-to backup band for many top acts who came to play in the Flint area.”
Around this time is when he hired road managers, Elaine and assistant manager Dot.
“We would be contracted by other bands that would come to Flint to perform, and to travel on the road with them as well. They might have us to do Chicago, Detroit, St. Louis or whatever. We backed up some of the biggest artists out there. Rock & Roll and Blues Hall of Fame artists. They would call, and instead of bringing [their own] full band, they would hire us…they would send the material and we would negotiate price, and generally, most of the time, 99.9%, I was the one that they contacted. I am the one that dealt with promoters and negotiated the price. With James, I was his right hand man. There’s times that everyone in the band got paid except me and James. Because that was just the way it was.”
The S Band also functioned as an independent band without Smith. Most of this music was composed by guitarist Ben Jackson/ Bryant wrote the lyrics.
Bryant was also The S Band music director, played bass, supplied vocals and was the announcer.
The S Band began with Herb McGowan, guitar; the late Ed Mason, drums; Phil Young, keys; Ben Jackson, guitar and composer.
Other local talent who played with The S Band over time were: Ulysses Bailey ‘BT’, the late Kevin Jones, the late David Cole, Sid Jones, Daniel Love, Otis Love, Chandler Hall, Jr., Mark Nunn, and Terell Love.
Other local musicians who played with Smith over the course of his career were Sherwood Pea on sax; Oz on guitar; Chill Will played bass and drums; the late great Cecil Norman played guitar and vocals, Zeg Hill on sax, the late Scotty on guitar and keys, the late John Wooten on percussion, Bunny Clyde on keys, Arnold Moore on keys, Chef played drums, Rich Small on guitar, Stephen Boone, keys. The group “The Smith Brothers” were not only Smith’s brothers, they were also his background vocalists.
Smith was born in 1948 in Blytheville, Arkansas, and he passed away on March 26, 2025, after a long illness. His wife Bernestine Connie and son Tyrone Connie preceded him in death. He attended Bethlehem Temple Apostolic Faith Church in Flint.
Smith’s music lives on as his legacy.
References:
https://www.sheldontbanks.com/obituaries/JD-Smith?obId=40133709
https://soulbluesmusic.com/billcodaypage.htm
https://www.southernsoulrnb.com/artistguide.cfm?aid=454
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitlin%27_Circuit
Hear Smith’s music on : Trancedkuja on youtube, or on:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDAVW8v3I8LCZq3l2N4IuhA
https://music.apple.com/us/album/everybody-needs-love/356807638
