Little Smokey rolled into Chicago during the mid-'50s, landing gigs with guitarist Arthur Big Boy Spires and pianist Lazy Bill Lucas and playing with Howlin' Wolf on the 1959 Chess session that produced I've Been Abused and Mr. Airplane Man. Smothers fell in with young White harpist Paul Butterfield when the latter was just starting out in the early '60s and is still fondly recalled as a major influence by his buddy Bishop, who would go on to make history as Butterfield's slashing axeman after Smothers left the harpist's employ.
There was a time during the '70s when Little Smokey pretty much gave up music, but he slid back into playing gradually during the next decade with the Legendary Blues Band. Heart problems temporarily shelved Smothers for a spell not too long ago, but he's back in action now, releasing That's My Partner with Elvin Bishop in 2000 among other dates. ~ Bill Dahl, Rovi