Russell Smith

William Russell Smith (b. Versailes, Kentucky, June 1890 - d. Indianapolis, July 17, 1969) -- Pianist, singer, composer, arranger, conductor, actor, and comedian. Russell smith was the first African American ragtime composer to get published in Indiana. Born in Kentucky and raised and educated in Indianapolis, Russell Smith had three piano rags published between 1907 and 1911; they were "Princess Rag," "Microbe Rag," and "Demon Rag." Also in 1911, he became the first African American in the city to conduct an orchestra when he landed a gig at the Severin Hotel. While Smith functioned as conductor, pianist, and vocalist, Reginald DuValle, Sr., Noble Sissle, and Eubie Blake were members of the group. A year later, he co-wrote the music and lyrics for a musical comedy The Dark Town Politician. In the 1920s, he performed as a comedian for the Broadway productions of Shuffle Along and Chocolate Dandies. Also in Manhattan, he was a vaudeville performer in the famous Keith circuit, and he the arranger for the W.C. Handy Music Publishing Company in New York. Later in life, he lived back home in Indianapolis, working various day jobs and playing the piano in taverns at night.