Francis Joseph Smith

Frank was a great mentor. When we first met he was fresh from the loss of his wife, doing his best with two beautiful, blonde children. Frank was very serious and very straight-up. As a musician he had high standards, yet he played with our little group- perhaps because we adored him and his history- he told great stories when we'd pause in the music, like about the time he stood talking to Charlie Parker as Bird sat in the back of a cab eating fried chicken- and throwing the bones at the cab...

Frank loved his cats as well as his dog. He was a very good-hearted man and we stayed with him for a few days at his Redding home. We will remember him always.

I met Frank in San Francisco, visiting his high house and learning music, spiritual sanity, and Irish lore. He was an outsider in the "free music" scene, but a couple of us gladly followed his lead as players because he had a rare & deep authority. We heard his tales of NYC and spiritual experience with Avatar Meher Baba. Lyla & Aaron worked down the street from me and I loved seeing them grow.
I played at the Olema wedding and only spoke a few times after that. Yet he's here in me...

Frank was one-of-a-kind. He had an indomitable spirit and will be missed. We loved Frank and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Godspeed, Frank.

the first time I met Frank was in the Summer of 1966 watching a movie that Joel Meltz was showing on the roof of the building I lived in in NYC (5th st. btw. A and B) when he found out I played trombone, he invited me to a rehearsal and after the rehearsal, invited me to play at the gig he was doing at the Lovebeast festival at the East Village Theater. the other groups on the bill were Archie Shepp and Albert Ayler. Frank and I became close friends - I lived with him and Toni in San...