The Jazz Life— Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith

The Piano Man

illie The Lion Smith. Image: The Daily Mail

When the great migration from the Southern States of America to the north, especially Chicago and New York, a new generation of jazz musicians began to grow.

Music On My Mind is pianist Willie The Lion Smith’s memoir, with Willie supplying the words, and Esquire journalist George Hoefer supplying the paper and the typewriter. But Hoefer is so good you…