Bluesman 'Little Smokey' Smothers Dies
CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago blues guitarist and vocalist Albert "Little Smokey" Smothers is dead at age 71.
Smothers' record producer, Dick Shurman, said Smothers died Nov. 20 from complications of diabetes.
A native of Tchula, Miss., Smothers moved to Chicago as a teenager. Following the lead of his brother, the late Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers, he learned guitar and was soon performing with such artists as Howlin' Wolf.
Smothers was known as a mentor to younger musicians, particularly guitarist Elvin Bishop and the late Paul Butterfield, founders of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
Smothers partially retired from music in the early 1970s, but returned to the blues in 1978 and continued performing until several years ago.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley, two brothers, two sisters, three children and nine grandchildren.
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