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     Claddys "Jabbo" Smith was born in Pemborke, Georgia in 1908. He entered Jenkin's Orphanage in 1915, studied music and played with the bands from 1918 to 1925.

     Jabbo recorded Black and Tan Fantasy with Duke Ellington in 1927. He also played New York's "Smalls Paradise" in Charlie Johnson's "Paradise Ten" and he played in the show "Keep Shufflin" with James P. Johnson and Fats Waller. Jabbo's high point was his recordings in 1929 with "Jabbo Smiths Rythm Aces". He worked in Chicago and Detroit from 1930 to 1935 and was with Claude Hopkins from 1936 to 1938. In the 1970's he was featured in the New York musical "One Mo' Time". Smith recored 19 albums with Brunswick and also recorded for Decca Records.

     Jabbo Smith was considered the only serious rival to Louis Armstrong and was one of the most recognized high-note trumpet players of all time.

One of the "Five Most Important Charleston Jazz Musicians"
(Charleston Jazz Initiative)