John T. Smith

John T. Smith may refer to:

See also

John T. Smith (congressman)

John T. Smith (1801 – March 30, 1864) was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Smith was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in 1801, and educated locally. He resided in the Philadelphia area, where he was active in banking as an officer and member of the board of directors at the Kensington Bank, of which he was President from 1854 to 1863. In addition, he was a member of the Board of Trustees at the Manufacturers’ and Mechanics’ Beneficial Savings Institution in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties district.

A Democrat, Smith was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania’s 3rd District in 1842, and he served one term, March 4, 1843 to March 3, 1845.

Smith served for several years on the Board of Commissioners for Northern Liberties (now part of Philadelphia), and was the board’s President from 1840 to 1843 and 1846 to 1849. In addition, he served in appointive positions including Inspector of the Philadelphia County Prison.

John T. Smith (blues musician)

John T. Smith (1896 – June 30, 1940) was an American Texas blues musician, who had a short lived recording session with Vocalion Records. Little is known about his life, although he was a busking street musician in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. He was believed to born sometime between 1880 and 1890. Smith played at parties, juke joints, and fish fries. In a two year period, from 1930 to 1931 he made close to twenty recordings. Among the songs he recorded was his trademark song, "Howlin Wolf Blues". On occasion the recording company would call him "The Howlin Wolf", and he may have had a musical influence on the young Chester Burnett who in the late 1940s and 1950s, was billed as Howlin' Wolf. Smith's style of playing was reminiscent to Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Early life and musical career

Smith's birth date is not known for certainty, but he is believed to have been born in 1896. He was the child of Amos Smith and Hattie Webb, and was born in east Texas. Smith worked at the Lincoln Theatre in New York City, and also resided in Oklahoma for a while. In the 1920s, Smith got married. He was playing at local dances, picnics, and fairs, during the time he paired up with local Texas bluesman, Thomas Shaw. In 1930, Smith recorded for Vocalion in Chicago, even though he was playing in the Dallas area from the 1920s to 1930s. He has been said to have worn a stovepipe hat with his name stitched into the hat.