Jimmy Don Smith collection

This collection contains photographs, fliers, posters and more related to Jimmy Don Smith and other musicians.

James Donald Smith who went by the performance name Jimmy Don Smith was born in Fort Worth, TX on October 28, 1948. He attended Oklahoma State University. At 19, Smith, a self-taught musician, moved to Houston and began a career as a lead guitarist and singer. He joined a variety of bands including Blackwell, The Boontz All-Stars, The Rhythm Tramps, and his last band The Cold Cuts or Jimmy Don Smith and the Cold Cuts. He recorded at least three albums with Blackwell, The Boontz All-Stars, and The Cold Cuts.

In 1985, Smith was diagnosed with cancer and passed on January 25, 1986. His widow, Rutherene Smith aka Ruth Cole Hammett Smith raised money and endowed the Jimmy Don Smith Memorial Scholarship at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.

The original materials are held by the Woodson Research Center in Fondren Library. Search the finding aid/inventory for the Jimmy Don Smith collection, MS 0994.