Michael P. Smith


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Photographer whose work is on albums of New Orleans artists. After graduating from Metairie Park Country Day School, Smith attended Tulane University. Smith’s photographic career began in 1966 when he became fascinated with the African American culture in his native New Orleans. As a graduate student at Tulane University, he made photographs for its jazz archive, discovering a subject and a documentary style of working that engaged him for the rest of his life.
He co-founded the New Orleans music club Tipitina’s in 1977.
During the 1980s, Smith traveled to Cuba, where he photographed many of the same subjects he explored in New Orleans: neighborhood life, street music, and religious practices.
Born June 15, 1937, in New Orleans
Died September 26, 2008, in New Orleans

APPEARANCES +


The Wild Tchoupitoulas Featuring The Neville Brothers
New Orleans '77
2025, LP, Album, Club, Ltd, 180, Tipitina's Record Club
Dr. John
Solo Piano/Live in New Orleans 1984
2023, LP, Album, Club, Ltd, Pur, Tipitina's Record Club
Clifton Chenier And His Red Hot Louisiana Band
Live At Tipitina's / June 7, 1980
2023, LP, Album, Ltd, Mag, Tipitina's Record Club
Etta James
Your Good Thing - Live At Tipitina's
2022, LP, Club, Ltd, 180, Tipitina's Record Club,
Trombone Shorty
Lifted
2022
Leo Nocentelli
Another Side
2021, Vinyl, ,
Bayou Funk/Country Rock
The Meters
Trick Bag
2020
The Wild Magnolias With The New Orleans Project
Handa Wanda / Soul, Soul, Soul
2020, Vinyl, ,
Funk
Allen Toussaint
Songbook
2013
George Winston
Gulf Coast Blues & Impressions 2 – A Louisiana Wetlands Benefit
2012, CD, ,
Contemporary Jazz
Professor Longhair
Mardi Gras In Baton Rouge
2012, CD, ,
Louisiana Blues/Piano Blues/Bayou Funk
Various
Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Collection
2011, 2xCD, Comp, Alligator Records,
Indigenous Resistance
Indigenous Dublands
2007, CD, Dub Reality
Harry Connick, Jr.
Chanson Du Vieux Carré (Connick On Piano 3. - French Quarter)
2007
Various
Our New Orleans 2005, A Benefit Album
2005, ,
Louisiana Blues/Cajun/Bayou Funk/Ragtime
Various
Funky Funky New Orleans 3 (Rare And Unreleased New Orleans Funk 1967-1974)
2003
Various
Keep It Rollin' - The Blues Piano Collection
2001, CD, Comp, Rounder Records
Various
Funky Funky New Orleans - 2A
2001, Vinyl, ,
Funk/Bayou Funk
The Meters
Rejuvenation
2001, CD, ,
Soul/Funk
The Hoodoo Kings
The Hoodoo Kings
2001
Various
Arhoolie Records 40th Anniversary Collection: 1960-2000 (The Journey Of Chris Strachwitz)
2000, 5xCD, Comp, RM + Box, Arhoolie Records, ,
Avant-garde Jazz/Cajun/Zydeco/Contemporary Jazz/Country Blues/Dixieland/Electric Blues/Folk/Gospel/Harmonica Blues/Louisiana Blues/Mariachi/Piano Blues/Piedmont Blues/Tejano/Texas Blues
Various
New Orleans Funk (New Orleans: The Original Sound Of Funk 1960-75)
2000
Ernie K-Doe
The Best Of Ernie K-Doe
1999, CD, Comp, Mardi Gras Records
Soul Rebel*
No More Parades
1998
Lee Dorsey
Wheelin' And Dealin' - The Definitive Collection
1997, CD, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Bayou Funk
Various
Crossroads: Southern Routes
1996, CD, Comp, Enh, Smithsonian Folkways
Alphonse "Bois Sec" Ardoin With Canray Fontenot
La Musique Creole
1996, CD, Comp, Arhoolie Records
Various
The Alligator Records 25th Anniversary Collection
1996
The Dirty Dozen*
Ears To The Wall
1996
John Sinclair (2) w/ Wayne Kramer
Friday, The 13th
1995, 10", Alive Records,
The Meters
Funkify Your Life (Anthology)
1995, ,
Funk/Instrumental
Lightnin' Hopkins
Rare Performances 1960-1979
1995
The Olympia Brass Band*
Best Of New Orleans Jazz Volume 1 (Olympia On Parade)
1993, CD, Renegade Records (2), ,
Dixieland
James Booker
Spiders On The Keys
1993, CD, Album, Rounder Records, ,
Louisiana Blues/Boogie Woogie/Easy Listening
Clifton Chenier
Zydeco Dynamite: The Clifton Chenier Anthology
1993, Box + 2xCD, Comp, Rhino Records (2), ,
Zydeco
James Booker
Resurrection Of The Bayou Maharajah
1993, CD, ,
Louisiana Blues/Piano Blues
Professor Longhair
Fess: The Professor Longhair Anthology
1993, 2x CD, Box Set, ,
Louisiana Blues/Rhythm & Blues
James Booker
Junco Partner
1993
Isaac Oviedo
Isaac Oviedo
1992, CD, Album, Rounder Records
Charlie Feathers
Charlie Feathers
1991, ,
Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie B. Bad
1991,
Jimmie Dale Gilmore
"After Awhile"
1991, CD, ,
Country
Boozoo Chavis
Boozoo Chavis
1991, CD, ,
Zydeco
Vernard Johnson*
I'm Alive
1991, CD, ,
Contemporary Jazz/Religious/Gospel
Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band*
Authentic New Orleans Jazz Funeral
1991
Marva Wright
Heartbreakin' Woman
1990
Various
Cuban Dance Party
1990
Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolias
I'm Back … At Carnival Time!
1990, CD, ,
Bayou Funk
Various
New Orleans Brass Bands - Down Yonder
1989,
Antoine "Fats" Domino*
Antoine "Fats" Domino
1989
Professor Longhair
Meet Me Tomorrow Night / Doin' It
1985, 7", Promo, Dancing Cat Records
Chosen Few Brass Band*
Chosen Few Brass Band
1985, LP, Album, Syla
Professor Longhair
Rock 'N' Roll Gumbo
1985
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band
My Feet Can't Fail Me Now
1984
Various
The Official New Orleans Rhythm & Blues Anniversary Album Volume 1
1984, Vinyl, ,
Rhythm & Blues
Rebirth Jazz Band Of New Orleans*
Here To Stay!
1984
Clifton Chenier And His Red Hot Louisiana Band
I'm Here!
1982
Rocking Dopsie And The Twisters*
French Style
1981, LP, Sonet, Sonet, ,
Zydeco/Cajun
Cindi Titzer
Cindi Titzer
1980, LP, Album, Nite Shade Records
Clifton Chenier
Classic Clifton
1980
Professor Longhair
Crawfish Fiesta
1980, ,
Louisiana Blues/Funk
Various
10th Anniversary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
1979, ,
Calypso/Country Blues/Cajun/Electric Blues/Ragtime/Dixieland/Hard Bop/Zydeco/Piano Blues/Gospel
Clifton Chenier
Bogalusa Boogie
1976
The Wild Magnolias With The New Orleans Project
The Wild Magnolias
1974, Vinyl All Disc Press, ,
Soul/Funk/Bayou Funk
Thomas Valentine*
Thomas Valentine At Kohlman's Tavern
1972
Snooks Eaglin
The Legacy Of The Blues Vol. 2.
1971, ,
Boogie Woogie/Country Blues/Rhythm & Blues/Folk/Rock & Roll
The Five Blind Boys Of Alabama* Featuring Clarence Fountain
Deep River
Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie B. Bad
CD,