Smiley Winters
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Biography
William âSmileyâ Winters, born in 1929 in St. Louis, Missouri, was an American jazz drummer. He received his first drum lessons from his mother, a tap dancer, and drew early musical guidance from mentors such as blues musicians Harry Wynn and Eddie and The Blue Devils. After seeing Charlie Parker perform with the Jay McShann band, he focused on jazz. Following his service in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945, he performed with Jerome Richardson's band and spent time in New York's 52nd Street jazz clubs, which included the Onyx Club and Kelly's Stable. He also performed in Honolulu with Billie Holiday. To support his family of ten children, he restricted his performances to the San Francisco Bay Area, playing with notable figures such as Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, and Ornette Coleman. In 1968, he recorded with the Now Creative Arts Jazz Ensemble. As a leader, he released the album Smiley Etc. (1969) on Arhoolie Records, which featured collaborators Barbara Donald and Michael White. He also recorded the album The Smiley Winters Memorial Quartet (1971) and was featured on the compilation William Richard Smiley Winters Sr. Esq. â H.M.I.C. - Head Musician In Charge (1987). He died on December 18, 1994 in Oakland, California.
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