By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 02:45 am:

To those of us who were fortunate enough to know Andrew, we knew that he was not only one bad ass drummer, but one of the sweetest guys you could ever hope to meet. All of Andrew's stories and accomplishments are welcomed here.

By harryweinger (68.37.251.103 - 68.37.251.103) on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 03:35 am:

Holding the bad-ass beat on PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE for 12 minutes.

By soulboy (213.105.242.198 - 213.105.242.198) on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 08:17 am:

Around what year did Andrew join Motown? What were his first sessions at Hitsville??

By Ed Wolfrum (165.247.228.231 - 165.247.228.231) on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 02:04 pm:

See the last Bob Babbit #3 thread for a picture of Andrew in about 1969 at United. His dad, Joe, used to bring him for sessions in 1967 over at Golden World when I was there. That might be his "professional" beginning. I'll give his mom a call over the weekend and see what I can find out.

Pax,
Ed Wolfrum

By Bob Olhsson (68.32.101.228 - 68.32.101.228) on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 05:19 pm:

A bad-ass beat WITHOUT using a click track!

Andrew is one of my personal heros.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 05:39 pm:

Bob,
Andrew WAS a click track...with all the tasty goodies added.

By Ed Wolfrum (165.247.228.231 - 165.247.228.231) on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 08:11 pm:

What is most interesting is the respect that the "founding fathers," Uriel, Pistol and George McGregor had for the "young whippersnapper" after the first 6 months or so. Of course there was Andrew's great personality.

Sue's dad was diagnosed with Alzheimers and Andrew, by way of his dad, had personal experience with this killer. When he found out, he educated us in what to expect. He walked us through and prepared us. That was a God send.

I talked to Andrew regularly during his short (8 month) bout with misdiagnosed prostate cancer. He never complained and always walked "Heads Up" to the end. I spoke with him 3 days before his death and he simply said "This is God's will." Simply put, Andrew was, and is a Saint!

Boy I miss him.

By Bradburger (172.183.43.74 - 172.183.43.74) on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 09:01 pm:

Andrew Smith also did sessions with HDH at Hot Wax & Invictus along with Bob Babbit, Pistol, Uriel & other Motown musicians. Check out the original BOB BABBIT post for a complete list of muscicans.

I believe it is him playing on Flaming Embers 'Westbound Number 9'.

Off the top of my head I'm sure it his him playing on these Motown tracks as well:

The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game - Blinky

Some Things You Never Get Used Too - The Supremes

I Want Him To Say It Again - Glady's Knight & The Pips

25 Miles - Edwin Starr

I just love that later style of Motown drumming.

I may be wrong of course but based on the many years of listening to the different Motown drummers I think I can tell the difference between them (well some of the time!).

Any I'm starting to ramble. I'll leave some space for the more qualified people to contribute.

Cheers

Paul

By Dennis Coffey (205.188.200.58 - 205.188.200.58) on Thursday, June 06, 2002 - 09:58 pm:

Hi Folks. I played on a lot of sessions with Andrew and he played on my hit Taurus. Andrew was also in my touring band along with Bob Babbitt. Andrew was a great drummer and all around nice guy.

Dennis Coffey

By Eli (205.188.198.39 - 205.188.198.39) on Saturday, June 08, 2002 - 01:38 pm:

I first met Andrew Smith in 1974 when he came to Philly along with Bob Babbitt at the beginning of a long run of sessions with Thom Bell including Rubberband Man, Sadie, Love Dont Love Nobody,
Sweet Love of Mine(Eli-Barrett)Then Came You, I Don't Want to Lose You, any many more by the Spinners, and many more artists produced by Thom as well as myself.
Andrew and Babbitt had this "strange code" speak which I later found out was a Funk Brothers thing used to communicate with one another about someone without them knowing what was meant.
He was such a "mensch"( a Yiddish word for a true gentleman) and had a wonderful sense of humour!!
When I learned of his untimely passing I was TRULY saddened.

By CHARLEY BANNISTER (64.12.104.178 - 64.12.104.178) on Friday, June 14, 2002 - 12:47 am:

I WAS INTRODUCED TO ANDREW BY HIS FATHER ( JOE SMITH ) AT THE TENDER AGE OF FOURTEEN , HE BECAME ONE OF MY STUDENTS, AND LATER MY CO PARTNER IN A MUSIC STORE BY THE NAME OF THE DETROIT DRUM SCHOOL& MUSIC CENTER , WE WERE CLOSE FRIENDS ,
WE STAYED IN CONSTANT COMUNICATION , I MISS HIM VERY MUCH. HIS DAD AND I WOULD TRAVEL TO VARIOUS STATES TO HEAR HIM PERFOM WITH SUCH NAME AS HERBIE MANN ETC. I MISS THEM BOTH.

By hw (68.37.216.64 - 68.37.216.64) on Friday, June 14, 2002 - 12:57 am:

Andrew is the drummer on... TAURUS?!?!?

I am glad to know that. Have mercy...

By Son of Thunder (65.129.41.27 - 65.129.41.27) on Friday, June 14, 2002 - 04:04 am:

Drum rats check out Andrew Smith's touch on "Plastic Man"-Temptations.Sometimes Andrew would flip the snare over and play on the side with the actual snares.It would bring a nice crisp sound.I'm sure Babbitt can comment more on this.

By Ralph (209.240.222.130 - 209.240.222.130) on Friday, June 14, 2002 - 01:12 pm:

Hi Charlie,
Welcome to the forum. Any stories you might have of Andrew would be appreciated here.