Marvin Smith
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Marvin "Smitty" Smith (born June 24, 1961) is an American jazz drummer and composer. Smith has been the drummer on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno since January 30, 1995.[1]
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[edit] Early years
Marvin Smith was born in Waukegan, Illinois, where his father, Marvin Sr., was a drummer. As a result, "Smitty," as he is called by fellow bandmates, was exposed to drumming at a young age, receiving formal musical training at the age of three.[2]
[edit] Career
Smith, an alumnus of Berklee[3], has recorded 200 albums with various artists, as well as two solo albums.[1] In addition, he also has toured with Sting, Sonny Rollins and Willie Nelson.[1] He is a former member of The New York Jazz Quartet[2], and is in a band with Kevin Eubanks, fellow Berklee alum and Tonight Show band member.
[edit] Trivia
- Smitty either plays a rimshot or taps the bass drum after Tonight Show host Jay Leno tells a joke during the monologue. Smitty is sometimes featured in Tonight Show segments or sketches.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Biographies. Retrieved on 3 September 2006.
- ^ a b Drummerworld: Marvin Smith. Retrieved on 3 September 2006.
- ^ Berklee Alumni Website. Retrieved on 3 September 2006.