Lonnie Liston Smith

Lonnie Liston Smith is an American jazz, R&B, soul and funk keyboard player from a musical family in Virginia. He studied music as a child and at university and performed locally. After moving to New York City in 1963, he had a stint accompanying singer Betty Carter and made records with saxophonist Roland Kirk. He spent time with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and with saxophonist Pharoah Sanders' band and made records with him and artists such as saxophonist Gato Barbieri and trumpet player Miles Davis. He recorded his first album with Cosmic Echoes, 'Astral Traveling', in 1973 followed by 'Cosmic Funk' (1974). 'Expansions' went to number 27 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 1975. 'Visions of a New World' (1975) reached number 14, 'Reflections of a Golden Dream' (1976) peaked at number 18, 'Renaissance' (1977) number 49, 'Live!' (1977) number 33, 'Loveland' (1978) number 37, 'A Song for the Children' (1979) number 57, 'Exotic Mysteris' (1979) number 50, 'Love Is the Answer' (1980) number 51 and 'Dreams of Tomorrow' (1983) number 46. 'Love Goddess' (1990) went to number ten on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Albums Chart and number 40 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. 'Magic Lady' (1992) peaked at number 75 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. He performed at the Glastonbury Festival in 2009 and his 2019 schedule included an appearance at Butlin's Bognor Regis Resort in England.

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