[2] Smith originally intended to pursue studies in engineering, but began playing trumpet at the age of 15 and soon after began playing in local amateur ensembles, including Norrie Cox's band and the New Teao Brass Band (the latter including Chris Barber and Ken Colyer).
[1] Intending to move to the US permanently, he worked briefly in New Orleans before spending time in California and New York.
In 1966, he organized an all-star band to tour Canada and Europe, which included Pops Foster, Jimmy Archey, and Alvin Alcorn.
[1] After 1975 he returned to England, where he founded a new band, Hefty Jazz;[1] this group was in existence for over a decade, touring internationally and featuring, at times, George Chisholm, Mick Pyne, Peanuts Hucko, Nat Pierce, Johnny Mince, and Barrett Deems.
Concurrently, he was named leader of the Louis Armstrong All-Stars in 1981, and in 1984 served as producer for Stardust Road, a televised film made as a tribute to Hoagy Carmichael.