By Joetter (209.100.86.4) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 12:43 pm:

This is from Joetter - Andrew Smith's sister.
-Steve
Babbit,
This is the day, April 27th that Andrew passed away in 2000. I was trying to start a new conversation on this site about Andrew in his honor but It doesn't seem as if I can get through.
I hope you don't mind if I put it on your thread.

Andrew L smith died April 27,2000 around 1pm in the afternoon in a Catholic hospital in East Brunswick, New Jersey.

He had over 20 years in a successful career in the music industry on the east coast where he played drums, arranged, composed and produced music. He even had a host of hit records to his credits even some grammys and gold records.

Not everyone knew that his first beats were on a little tom-tom that our parents brought back from a trip. When my father's cousin's husband, a professional drummer , saw Andrew's interest in the drums. He gave Andrew his first pair of drum sticks, practice pad, and later a snare drum.

His formal instruction started with George Wilson at Roosevelt Elem. Irwin Klocko at Durfree Jr High. Fred Bolt at Central High.

During elementary school and part of Jr. High he took private lessons and was headed toward classical music. Until one day we met a postman delivering a country ham from relatives in Tennessee.This meeting changed his life forever.

Meeting Charlie Bannister took him full circle. Taking lessons from Charlie Bannister laid the foundations for what later would allow him to realize his dreams of a successful musical career.

Charlie Bannister had a drum shop where the top entertainers would come in town to rehearse before there gig in town( the Jazz Crusaders and others). This exposure was awesome.

Under the guidance of Charlie Bannister's, at the age of 13 he and some other young musicians formed a group call the Quintet Plus. They recorded their version of Shop Around. They played for sock hops around town and talent shows. Later the group performed often on the Robin Seymour Show in Canada.

At Central High School, band director Fred Boldt gave Andrew freedom to arrange some of the tunes for the stage band. I'm sure Fred Boldt didn't have any idea then that years later that Andrew would hire him for some sessions.

It was at Central High School that Andrew was discovered by Motown in his senior year. He told me years later that it wasn't easy being accepted by the group. They watched for a while to see if he had what it took to be there. When that time of acceptance came, he felt that the group took him under wing. Being the youngest in the group, they gave him valuable lessons he later took with him to the east coast after Motown moved to the west coast.

Years later Andrew would recall stories about the musican friends he had made along the way. There are a couple I keep in contact with. They are Bob Babbit and Ed Wolfrum. You guys are great!
You fellows don't let Andrew's memory die. God Bless you for that.

While in New Jersey he studied and grduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors Degree in Music and in Journalism. Just another accomplishment to be added to a list of many.

When my mother and I were at the funeral home in Detroit, making arrangements. A tune came over the radio. I told the lady helping us, that the person we were making the arrangments for ( my brother) played the drums on that record we were listening to. To console both of us , she remarked that he may have passed on but his music would never die.
It is true, I now turn on the radio and there he is, in his beat, it's all his.

I want to thank Babbit for telling me about www.soulfuldetroit.com last June. I have followed the different threads from time to time.
Thanks to all of Andrew's friends and fellow musicians for keeping his name alive. I have learned so much by coming on this site. This is history.

Andrew's sister
Joetter

By Eli (151.197.112.114) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 12:57 pm:

Hello Joetter,
My name is Bobby Ele and I am a Philly producer/writer/musician.
I have had the pleasure of playing guitar on all of the sessions that Andrew played on in Philly along with Babbitt.
I loved to hear his stories of the Motown days and I got the chance of experiencing "the code" for the first time with Andrew and Babbitt.
He was by far the consumate professional and a world class drummer and all around nice guy.
I am sure that he is up there in that heavenly place with the rest of the Mowown greats!!

Bobby Eli 4/28/03

By Eli (151.197.112.114) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 12:58 pm:

That should be Eli

By Steve Litos (209.100.86.4) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 01:40 pm:

Hello Joetter,
Welcome to the forum. The "create new conversation" button is at the bottom of the page. You have to scroll down all the way to get to it.
Bob Babbitt told some great stories a while back on this forum about Andrew. They can be found in the Archives section. I believe Andrew's daughter also posted here a couple of times.
-Steve

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 02:43 pm:

Any stories of Andrew would be most welcome here. A truly gifted musican and an all round nice guy. Thank you for posting Joetter.

By RAY MONETTE (207.191.236.64) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 06:40 pm:

HI JOETTER,
ANDREW AND I LOST TOUCH WHEN I JOINED "RARE EARTH".I MOVED TO THE WEST COAST,AND HE AND BOB MOVED EAST.IT WAS GREAT TO READ YOUR LETTER,AND TO BE BROUGHT UP TO DATE ON ANDREW'S MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS.AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID,ANDREW WAS ONE OF THE KINDEST, AND WARMEST PERSONS THAT I'VE EVER KNOWN.AND OF COURSE ONE OF FINEST DRUMMERS,THAT I'VE EVER HAD THE PLEASURE TO PLAY WITH.
DURING OUR "SCORPION" DAYS,HE WAS INVENTING BEATS AND RYTHMS,THAT I'D NEVER HEARD BEFORE,OR SINCE.SHEER GENIUS!
THAT WOMAN WAS RIGHT. HIS MUSIC,AND THE MEMORIES,WILL NEVER DIE.
GOD BLESS,
RAY MONETTE

By Paul Mooney (62.254.64.5) on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 05:53 pm:

Hello Joetter,

Apart from being a great drummer, Andrew wrote and arranged some excellent songs that will be cherished for many years to come. I particularly like "I Don't Wanna Leave You" by Debbie Taylor and "Sending My Best Wishes" by Garland Green (sadly Andrew was uncredited on that one). He also worked on "Love Jones" by Norma Jenkins, another record I'll never get tired of.

Your brother was very talented and will always be remembered.

Best regards,

Paul Mooney

By buzzy (209.179.226.96) on Tuesday, May 06, 2003 - 09:55 pm:

wow , Joetta Smith ,
I played in the band at durfee and a few years at central with you and later Andrew . What a talent he was . I talked to fred boldt afew years ago and he told me he went to Andrew's services .actually victor huey told me about Andrew or was it Quintin . no matter , there should be a scholarship to a deserving central music student . maybe a heritege musical grant in his name .and by the way get out your clarinet .
peace , Ralph jones

By Stephanie (63.141.67.90) on Friday, July 11, 2003 - 02:12 pm:

Hi, my name is Stephanie (Dawson) Rutledge and I am the Chairman for the Detroit Central High School Alumni Association. I knew Andrew and we both graduated in 1968. The Central Alumni Association is planning to pay tribute to the memory of Andrew L. Smith and setup a music scholarship in his honor. We are in the beginning stage of planning a fundraiser event and welcome any input and contributions from those knew Andrew and of his many music accomplishments. Andrew will also be inducted into the Central High School Hall of Fame. If you are interest in participating, please contact me via e-mail rutledge@butzel.com or by mail: DCHSAA, P.O. Box 31028, Highland Park, MI 48203.