Stuff Smith: Jazz’s Electrifying Violinist

In this episode of Once Upon A Time in Black History, we plug into the vibrant, swinging world of Stuff Smith—jazz’s electrifying violinist. Born Hezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith in 1909, Stuff defied expectations and redefined what a violin could do in jazz. From his bluesy, high-energy solos to his pioneering use of electric amplification, Smith pushed boundaries and brought raw soul to a traditionally classical instrument.