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Ethel Smith (November 22, 1910 – May 10, 1996) was an organist who played primarily in a pop style on the Hammond organ.
Her recording of Tico Tico was her best-known hit. It reached No. 14 on the U.S. pop charts in November 1944 and sold over one million copies worldwide. She also recorded it for the 1944 film, Bathing Beauty. She was married to Ralph Bellamy from 1945 to 1947. She died on May 10, 1996.
Ethel Smith was probably the first to achieve success as a pop organist. Spotted by a talent agent while working as the house organist at the St. Regis Hotel in New York City, she began appearing on radio in the late-1930s, she moved to Hollywood in 1940 and appeared in a string of minor musicals, including "Cuban Pete" with Desi Arnaz in 1941 and "Bathing Beauty" with Esther Williams in 1944. She co-wrote the theme song to "Cuban Pete" and recorded the best-selling cover of "Tico Tico," which later became her own theme song. She recorded and appeared on television through the 1950s and had a lively nightclub act, adding dancing, singing, brightly colored dresses and outlandish hats, and comedy routines to her already spicy organ playing. She also formed her own publishing company and put out a series of instructional books on the Hammond organ. She continued to perform at local clubs in the Palm Beach area after retiring in the mid-1970s.
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Discography:
78s
Teddy Bear's Picnic/Fiddle-Faddle,Decca 60.298 American Series(very rare)
Tico Tico, Decca 23353
Tico Tico/Lere Lero, Decca BM03571 American Series
White Christmas/Jingle Bells, Decca BM30601 American Series
Paran pan pin - Cachita/The parrot, Decca BM03632 American Series
Quizas, quizas, quizas/Made for each other, Decca 60.139 American Series
Blame it on the samba/The green cockatoo, Decca 60.249 American Series
Mambo Jambo, Decca 27119
Monkey on a string, Decca 27183
I'm walking behind you/April in Portugal, Brunswick 05147
Ethel's birthday party/The wedding of the painted doll, Decca 60.605
LPs
Ethel Smith's Hit Party, Decca DL 4803
Ethel Smith's Cha Cha Cha Album, Decca DL 8164
Christmas Music, Decca DL 8187
Galloping Fingers, Decca DL 8456
Latin From Manhattan, Decca DL 8457
Miss Smith Goes To Paris, Decca DL 8640
Dance To The Latin Rhythm's Of Ethel Smith, Decca DL 8712
Waltz With Me, Decca DL 8735
Lady Fingers, Decca DL 8744
Bright And Breezy, Decca DL 8799
Ethel Smith Swings Sweetly, Decca DL 74095
The Many Moods Of Ethel Smith, Decca DL 74145
Make Mine Hawaiian, Decca DL 74236
Lady Of Spain, Decca DL 74325
Rhythm Antics!, Decca DL 74414
At The End Of A Perfect Day, Decca DL 74467
Hollywood Favorites, Decca DL 74618
Ethel Smith's Hit Party, Decca DL 74803
Seated One Day At The Organ, Decca DL 78902
Bouquet Of The Blues, Decca DL 78955
Ethel Smith On Broadway, Decca DL 78993
Ethel Smith, Vocalion VL 3669
Organ Holiday, Vocalion VL 73778
Silent Night--Holy Night, Vocalion VL 73882
Parade, MCA Coral CB 20021
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