People, Locations, Episodes

Sun, 10.12.1879

Chris Smith, Songwriter, and Actor born

Chris Smith, a Black songwriter, was born in 1879.

He was born in Charleston, S.C., and his first experience in show business was in a medicine show. He went to New York around the turn of the century with his childhood friend and lifelong vaudeville partner, Elmer Bowman. He and Bowman wrote many songs, including I've Got De Blues" and their first big hit, "Good Morning Carrie," co-written with Cecil Mack and sung on stage by Bert Williams. Smith collaborated on many songs during this time. Some of the most popular were "He's a Cousin of Mine," "Down Among the Sugar Cane," and "You're in the Right Church but the Wrong Pew." The latter was a hit for Bert Williams in his musical Bandanna Land and was published by the first Black-owned publishing company, Gotham-Attucks.

Smith wrote, acted, and appeared in vaudeville with his Bowman. In 1911 and 1912, he wrote some excellent syncopated instrumentals, including the "Honky Tonk Monkey Rag." In 1914, he had his biggest hit, "Ballin The Jack," written by Jim Burris, and started a dance craze that lasted for a decade.

Smith wrote many songs over the next ten years. He wrote two popular numbers in the early 1920s with Jimmy Durante, and it is rumored that he and Durante performed together in vaudeville after Smith's partner Bowman died.  He was one of the most popular and prolific songsters of the time. Chris Smith died in New York City on October 4, 1949.

To Become a Musician or Singer

To Become a Conductor or Composer