Her newly formed quintet found regular work and Smith later performed with the Ted Heath Orchestra and alongside Kenny Baker.
[1][4] Smith's talent was noticed by a local village resident who paid for her education fees to allow her to attend the private Stoneygate School in Leicester.
[4] Smith toured with the same programme as Bill Haley & His Comets,[5] and found some success when her recording of Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered reached the American hit parade, garnering admiration with some of the country's famous musicians.
[6] That same year, Randall became ill and disbanded the group, leading Smith and Peberdy to form their own quintet which included the pianist Brian Lemon.
[2] Smith played and sang with the Ted Heath Orchestra, and at this period of time, was now appearing in clubs and festivals in a solo capacity in Europe.
A sextet called "The Best of British Jazz" was formed in the 1970s when two former Ted Heath musicians, trombonist Don Lusher and drummer Jack Parnell joined her and Baker.
[4][8] Smith had not recovered sufficiently when Baker reformed the band in 1992 but continued to play the piano the week before her death on 21 January 2011 at Baron Court's Nursing Home in Kirby Muxloe, Leicester.