page_title: Bennie Smith
hierarchical_section_title: Bennie Smith
caption_attribution_description: English: Bennie Smith playing with his band at BBs Jazz Blues and Soups 700 Broadway in St. Louis MO. U.S.A. Picture was taken circa October, 2004 at a birthday celebration for another St. Louis blues patriarch, Henry Townsend (note the shadow of the 'birthday' banner on the wall in the background). Of interest, in the background is a poster of bluesman Albert King, a St. Louis contemporary of Bennie Smith during Bennie's earlier years.
context_page_description: Bennie Smith was an American, St. Louis blues guitarist, considered to be one of the city's patriarchs of electric blues.
  His sound was emblematic of a St. Louis blues music that he helped define in over half a century practicing his trade. His contributions to the genre in that city, from the early 1950s and almost until the day of his death, included mentor, performer, and recording artist.
  Due to his significant contribution to blues music in St. Louis, in October 2003 he received a proclamation from mayor Francis Slay marking October 5, 2003 as 'Bennie Smith Day' in that city. The board of aldermen similarly honored Smith, recognizing him as the "Dean of St. Louis Electric Guitarists". During the 2006 Big Muddy Blues Festival in St. Louis, Mayor Slay honored Bennie once again on September 2 of that year, declaring that day also be known as 'Bennie Smith Day' in St. Louis.
context_section_description: Bennie Smith (October 5, 1933 in St. Louis, Missouri – September 10, 2006 in St. Louis, Missouri) was an American, St. Louis blues guitarist, considered to be one of the city's patriarchs of electric blues.
  His sound was emblematic of a St. Louis blues music that he helped define in over half a century practicing his trade. His contributions to the genre in that city, from the early 1950s and almost until the day of his death, included mentor, performer, and recording artist.
  Due to his significant contribution to blues music in St. Louis, in October 2003 he received a proclamation from mayor Francis Slay marking October 5, 2003 as 'Bennie Smith Day' in that city. The board of aldermen similarly honored Smith, recognizing him as the "Dean of St. Louis Electric Guitarists".  During the 2006 Big Muddy Blues Festival in St. Louis, Mayor Slay honored Bennie once again on September 2 of that year, declaring that day also be known as 'Bennie Smith Day' in St. Louis.
caption: Bennie Smith; October 2004
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