Barry Eugene Smith

Drummer Barry “Frosty” Smith died at home April 12, 2017 after a long illness. He was 71.

Born March 20, 1946, in Bellingham, Wash. to Clifford & Dawn Smith, Barry was raised in the Bay Area of California and made his way to Los Angeles in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s playing drums for such notable performers as Lee Michaels, the rock band “Sweathog”, Rare Earth, Sly & The Family Stone, Parliament and Parliament Funkadelic.  These were just a few of the bands that Frosty played with…there were certainly many more.

In the early 80’s, Austin became his home and he toured and recorded with Delbert McClinton.  Frosty played with many of Austin’s finest bands and musicians such as Alejandro Escavedo, Roky Erickson, Butch Hancock, The Texana Dames, W. C. Clark, Guy Forsyth, Toni Price, Marcia Ball, Junior Brown, Tex Thomas, Omar & The Howlers, Soul Hat, Jimmie Vaughan, Mike Flanigan and many more. Austin clubs were his home performing at Antone’s, the Continental Club, Saxon Pub, LaZona Rosa to name only a few.  His work on albums would fill legal page after legal page of a veritable “who’s who” in the music business.  Frosty’s contribution to all of these great musicians will be eternal and enjoyed by millions for years to come.

Former Texas Music Office director Casey Monahan recalled hearing about how Smith influenced the playing of Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham. “When Zeppelin came over to America for the first time, he and Bonham became friends, and Frosty taught him how to play solos with his hands,” said Monahan, who called Smith “the greatest drummer to call Austin home. “He was a true musician. When you’d go and see him play, the best players were there watching him, because they knew they were in the presence of greatness.”

Barry is survived by his son, Jesse Frost and his wife, Lylah and their two children, Isabella and Miles, and his daughter, Jill Deanne Hightower, and his partner Betty Carlton. 

Frosty is loved by all who experienced his music and his charm.  His many friends and fans will celebrate his life at a date to be determined.