Born James Oscar Smith on 8th December 1925 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, USA. Smith was influenced by both gospel and blues. He first achieved prominence in the 1950s where his recordings became popular on jukeboxes before there were commonly used terms to describe his unique musical flavor. In the sixties and seventies he helped create the jazz style known as soul jazz.
Smith employed a unique technique to emulate a string bass player on the organ. Although he played walking bass lines on the pedals on ballads, for uptempo tunes, he would play the bass line on the lower manual and use the pedals for emphasis on the attack of certain notes. His solos were characterised by percussive chords mixed with very fast melodic improvisation with the right hand.
Smith was a prolific recording artist. He first recorded with the Blue Note label in 1956. His early albums with Blue Note sold very well, improving its financial viability and aiding the label's efforts to promote other artists. They include Home Cookin' , The Sermon!, Midnight Special, Prayer Meetin' , and Back at the Chicken Shack.
Smith signed to Verve Records label in 1963. Smith's albums with Verve include: The Cat, The Boss, Root Down, Peter & The Wolf, Any Number Can Win, The Incredible..., Bashin', Got My Mojo Workin', Christmas Cookin', and Organ Grinder Swing.
His influence has been felt across multiple generations and musical styles; nearly every subsequent jazz organist owes a large debt to Smith. The Beastie Boys (who sampled the bassline from Smith's "Root Down (and Get It)"—and saluted Smith in the lyrics—for their own hit "Root Down"), Medeski, Martin & Wood, and The Hayden-Eckert Ensemble are among the better known contemporary bands that pay tribute to Smith's sensibilities and sound. The Acid Jazz movement also reflects Smith's influences.
Smith died on 8th February 2005, in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.
There are several other artists with this name: 1. an American jazz trumpeter, 2. an American jazz drummer, 3. a British guitarist for the band Foals, 4. blues guitarist Jimmy "Guitar" Smith.
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See Wikipedia for a disambiguation page for Jimmy Smith#Musicians.
White Christmas
Jimmy Smith Lyrics
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Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white
And may all your Christmases be white (all your Christmases be white)
And may all your Christmases be white (all your Christmases be white)
And may all your Christmases be
(All your Christmases be white)
(All your Christmases be white)
The song "White Christmas" by Jimmy Smith is a classic Christmas tune that evokes a sense of nostalgia for the past. The song describes the singer's desire for a white Christmas that is similar to the ones they used to experience. The treetops glisten with snow, and children eagerly listen for sleigh bells ringing through the snow. The repetition of the first verse illustrates the singer's longing for a traditional Christmas experience, which highlights the significance of preserving traditions and experiencing the beauty of winter.
The second verse reveals the singer's Christmas wishes for their friends and loved ones. They express the hope that everyone feels joy and happiness during the holiday season and that they can experience the wonder of a white Christmas. The final verse repeats the sentiment of the second verse, emphasizing the importance of spreading love and light during the holiday season.
Overall, "White Christmas" is a song about the joys of the holiday season and the importance of preserving traditions. The song conveys a sense of warmth, nostalgia, and happiness and encourages listeners to focus on the joys of the present rather than worrying about the past or future.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
I long for a Christmas with snow
Just like the ones I used to know
Similar to the past Christmases I vividly remember
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
Where snow is dangling from trees and kids are waiting to hear sleigh bells approaching
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
To listen to the sound of bells chiming indicating the arrival of Santa's sleigh
With every Christmas card I write
While I am writing greeting cards and sending them to loved ones
May your days be merry and bright
I hope you have joyous and happy days
And may all your Christmases be white
I wish all of your Christmases to be filled with snow
And may all your Christmases be white (all your Christmases be white)
I repeat my wish for all of your Christmases to have snow
And may all your Christmases be white (all your Christmases be white)
I repeat my wish for all of your Christmases to have snow
And may all your Christmases be
I hope all of your Christmas celebrations are filled with joy and happiness
(All your Christmases be white)
I wish for all your Christmases to have the beauty of snow
(All your Christmases be white)
I wish for all your Christmases to have the beauty of snow
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Irving Berlin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind