BETTY SMITH

Betty Smith: tenor saxophonist, vocalist, bandleader
Born at Sileby, Leicestershire on 6th July 1929
Died at Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire on 21st January 2011

from, 'Who was Who of British Jazz', John Chilton (1997) p.302
"Piano from six, sax at nine. (Betty) joined Archie’s Juveniles on alto sax, then worked with Blanche Coleman on tenor sax, and from then on specialized on tenor sax. With Belly Penrose (1947), then toured with Rudy Starita’s Girls’ Band before joining Ivy Benson. With Freddy Randall from June to November 1950. Married bassist-trumpeter Jack Peberdy in August 1950. Worked mainly in and around Leicester (with Johnny Smith and Johnny Hearth) until rejoining Randall in 1963. Left Randall in February 1957 to form own quintet (which originally features pianist Brian Lemmon). Led own group through the 1960s and 1970s, playing summer seasons in Guernsey, Cliftonville, etc., and on liner Franconia. Also toured Australia and New Zealand, and worked in the USA. Featured as a guest artiste in many shows and played many club dates and concerts alongside Kenny baker. Was featured in the Best of British Jazz during the 1970s and 1980s. Illness curtailed full working schedule in the late 1980s."

from, 'Guinness who's who of Jazz', General Editor, Colin Larkin (1992) p.368
"An outstanding performer, Smith is one of only a few women of her generation to successfully overcome the offensive yet seemingly immovable prejudice against women instrumentalists in jazz. The quality of her playing and the high standards she has set herself reveal the absurdity of such prejudices."