On 4 December 2019, Lonnie Smith was a guest on Blue Note 80th Anniversary Broadcast. Lonnie Smith has been played on NTS over 20 times, featured on 25 episodes and was first played on 16 November 2013.

Dr. Lonnie Smith (not to be confused with Lonnie Liston Smith) was born in Lackawanna, New York, (just outside of Buffalo).

His affinity for R&B melded with his own personal style, and he quickly became a local legend. He moved to New York City, where he met George Benson, the guitarist for Jack McDuff's band. Benson and Smith connected on a personal level, and the two formed the George…