Walter M. Smith

From Wind Repertory Project
Walter M. Smith

Biography

Walter Milton Smith (16 December 1890, Easthampton, Mass. - 1 May 1937, Quincy, Mass.) was an American composer, cornetist and conductor.

Smith first studied piano and violin, and at the age of ten he switched to cornet. He was also a pupil of Ernest S. Williams.

Smith enjoyed a varied and vibrant career as a trumpet soloist, conductor for various bands in the Boston area, and pedagogue. He performed with bands in Brooklyn, New York, and Boston, Massachusetts. Later, he directed the Aleppo Temple Shrine Band (Boston), the Taleb Grotto Band (Boston), the North Easton Ames Band, the Boston Municipal Band, and the Boston University Band.

During his lifetime, he was recognized as one of the top trumpet soloists. Charles Colin, a noted trumpeter and educator, said of his playing: “Never before or since has there been a greater player than Walter with his spectacular and brilliant technique. He had a drive that thrilled audiences wherever he played.” Besides performing, Smith also maintained a large teaching studio and was the author of the popular method book Top Tones for the Trumpeter and joint editor (along with Edwin Franko Goldman) for the Carl Fischer edition of the Arban Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet.

Smith’s bands were popular favorites on radio broadcasts of the 1930s.


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