William Daniel Smith, otherwise known as “Smitty”, was born on August 30th, 1944. Originally from Virginia, Smith would not start his music career until moving to Toronto. There, he became a highly-sought after keyboardist and session musician. Joining the Canadian group, The Soul Searchers, Smith worked alongside Dianne Brooks and Eric Mercury. The band was an instant success with hit “Lonely Girl” and toured North American cities Toronto, Montreal, Detroit, and Buffalo.

After the band split, he joined fellow bandmate, Steve Kennedy, in group Grant Smith & Power. Following that, him and Kennedy, alongside, Ken Marco, and Wayne “Stoney” Stone, formed Canadian Rock group, Motherlode. The band was another short-lived project, but managed to earn a Billboard Top 100 hit with single “When I Die”.

Smith focused on being a session musician after that, contributing background vocals to Bob Dylan, David Clayton-Thomas, Tracy Chapman, Billy Joel, and The Pointer Sisters, to name a few. He would play again with former bandmate, Eric Mercury, in his album Funky Sounds Nurtured in the Fertile Soil of Memphis, and in his debut solo album Smitty in 1978. They co-wrote song “Sweetie Pie” together, adding to the albums soulful rhythm.

Smith sadly passed away November 28th, 1997, due to a heart attack at only 53. His many contributions to Canadian history will be remembered through his music.