Derek Smith

Derek Smith (born 17 August 1931, London) is an English jazz pianist.Smith played piano from a very young age, and worked professionally from age 14. In the 1950s he played with many noted British jazz musicians, such as Kenny Graham, John Dankworth, and Kenny Baker, then moved to New York City in the middle of the decade. He continued playing jazz in America with Benny Goodman and Connie Kay, among others, and also worked copiously as a session musician for recordings. In the 1960s he played piano in the Tonight Show Band, the orchestra led by Doc Severinsen for the Tonight Show.