Melvin Smith/Little Melvin

[clifford_thornton]

I'm wondering, quickly, whether the Melvin Smith (wiry, noisy guitar style) who played with Charles Tyler, Steve Reid et al. is the same "Little Melvin" who cut some blues & R&B material for RCA, among others, in the 50s and 60s. AMG points to them being the same person but I find that highly suspect.

Thanks.

[paul secor]

Melvin Smith was strictly a vocalist who recorded for RCA and Groove in the 1950's, and then was part of The Nite Riders, a successful show band led by Doc Starks and featuring legendary pianist Van Walls, into the 1960's. I'm pretty sure that he's not the guy you're talking about.

Little Melvin (Underwood) was (is?) a blues/r&b vocalist/guitarist who recorded for small labels in Louisiana in the late 50's/early 60's. Around 2000 or so, he was based in Upstate N.Y., and played at the bar mitzvah of the son of a very good friend. I met him and he signed a copy of an Ace CD on which two previously unreleased tracks of his appear. I'll get in touch with my friend and see what he knows.

[paul secor]

Just heard from my friend. He says that Little Melvin (Underwood) played with Mighty Sam McLain and Ivory Joe Hunter, and was based in the south. My friend has no knowledge that this Little Melvin ever played with a jazz group.

Evidently there's another Melvin Smith or Little Melvin out there.

[clifford_thornton]

Great, thanks - yet another instance of AMG confusion!