Kester Smith


Kester Winston "Smitty" Smith was an American percussionist. Born in Grenada and raised from a young age in Trinidad, he was the drummer for the Taj Mahal Trio and collaborated with jazz, blues and world musicians. He performed with and alongside Taj Mahal for over forty years. He recorded music with Taj Mahal, Geoff Muldaur, Peter Rowan, Cedella Booker, Morgan Freeman, Ellen McIlwaine, Mary Coughlan and Pinetop Perkins.

Selected discography

Smith died surrounded by family, in his adopted hometown of St. Helena, California on January 15, 2024.