Smith, Clarence Pine Top
(1904–1929)> PIANIST
Smith, Clarence Pine Top 11 January 1904; Orion, AL – 15 March 1929; Chicago, IL Clarence “Pinetop” Smith was born in Orion, Alabama, on January 11, 1904, and in his teens moved to Birmingham, Alabama, which at that time had a strong blues piano tradition. As a pianist, he was soon proficient enough to appear on the TOBA circuit, accompanying such artists as Butterbeans and Susie , Ma and Pa Rainey, and Coot Grant and Sox Wilson. He was discovered, playing in a Pittsburgh club, by Cow Cow…