Wednesday, November 25, 2009

African American Composer, Pianist & Professor Hale Smith (1925-2009)


[“Music of Hale Smith”; CRI 860 (2000)]

Hale Smith, an African American composer, pianist and professor who was born June 29, 1925, passed away at 11:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 24, 2009, according to his former student and longtime friend Regina Harris Baiocchi, in Freeport, New York. Hale Smith is survived by his wife Juanita Smith.

Suzanne Flandreau of the Center for Black Music Research adds of Hale Smith: “He had been at home in hospice care for the past few months.” [Hale Smith is profiled at AfriClassical.com, where a complete Works List by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma can be found]






1 comment:

Regina Harris Baiocchi said...

As we big adieu to Master Composer Hale Smith I am reminded of all he gave to me and the world as mentor, teacher and friend. The greatest tribute we can pay is to program Hale Smith's music.
--Regina Harris Baiocchi, Chicago, IL