In addition to her work in jazz and rhythm & blues, she performed with the All City Symphony Orchestra of Los Angeles.

[5] Born in Chicago, Smock, who was of African American heritage, was orphaned at the age of 6 and grew up in Los Angeles, graduating from Jefferson High School.

[2] She was featured on Clarence Muse's radio program at the age of thirteen performing Edward MacDowell's To a Wild Rose.

[7] In 1951, she led an all-female sextette, featuring Clora Bryant,[8] on the Chicks and the Fiddle show hosted by Phil Moore[3] that broadcast for six weeks on CBS.

[3] On March 31, 1953, Smock recorded as part of a group, with Gerald Wiggins, Freddie Simon, Red Callender, and Rudy Pitts, accompanying the vocalist Cecil "Count" Carter.