Willie "Long Time" Smith
Willie "Long Time" Smith was an American Chicago blues pianist and singer who played piano and sang, mainly active in the 1940s and 1950s. He recorded about ten tracks, most for Columbia Records in 1947.
His nickname helped distinguish him from two other Willies: Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and Willie "the Lion" Smith. He moved in Chicago blues circles and befriended Doctor Clayton, who died of tuberculosis in Chicago on January 7, 1947. Smith recorded a tribute, "My Buddy, Doctor Clayton," that year.
In 1947 he made eight tracks for Columbia Records in two sessions (June 13 and December 27). His songs often had a boogie feel, such as "Dirty Deal Boogie" and "I Love You Baby Boogie." He was praised as an excellent singer and a fine piano player, with Willie Lacey on guitar. Two songs, "Homeless Blues" and "Devilment on My Mind," were not issued at the time.
In the 1950s he sometimes performed with Arthur "Big Boy" Spires' Rocket Four. In 1954 he backed Spires on two sides, "Dark and Stormy Night" and "Moody In the Morning." He then appeared as the featured artist on two more songs, "You Can't Tell" and "Wrapped in My Baby," likely recorded in December 1954. These four sides were for United Records but were not issued then. They finally appeared in 1982 in Japan on Chicago Blues in the Groove.
Little else is known about Smith's life.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 14:06 (CET).