Byther Claude Earl John Smith (April 17, 1932 – September 10, 2021)[1][2] was an American blues musician[3] who worked with Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Otis Rush and Junior Wells.

[5] In his teenage years he moved to Arizona to work on a cattle ranch and played in a country and western band on weekends.

[4] He worked in construction and local farmhands taught him to play the double bass.

[4] In the 1970s he joined the house band at Theresa’s Tavern where he worked for five years, often playing with Junior Wells.

[7] In 1995, Smith retired from his job at Economy Folding Box Company after twenty-five years, allowing him to focus fully on music.