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Lincoln, Nebraska, childhood -- Plays banjo in local band at sixteen -- Hitches ride on passenger train out west -- Picks up piano from Leonard Davidson -- Drives from Las Vegas to Los Angeles -- First impressions of Central Avenue -- Learns to write music from Buddy Harper -- Learns more piano from friends who could afford lessons -- Manages band in Yuma, Arizona -- Red Callender -- Working on Central Avenue -- Joins Lionel Hampton's band -- Function of the American Federation of musicians in the thirties -- Smith's earnings in the twenties and thirties -- Dootsie Williams at the Club Alabam.
Club scene in Los Angeles in the thirties -- Musicians from Watts -- Charles Mingus -- More on clubs in Los Angeles -- After-hours clubs -- Leaves Los Angeles to join Nat Towel's band in Omaha -- Bands Smith played with in the forties and fifties -- Automobile accidents -- Playing Las Vegas with the Ink Spots -- The Sepianeers -- Playing with Percy Mayfield -- Playing in Paris with the Golden Gate Quartet.
Changes in Central Avenue from the thirties to the forties -- Gambling on Central Avenue -- Mob-owned clubs in Hollywood -- Jam sessions on off-nights.
Bandleaders on Central Avenue -- Payment for gigs in Los Angeles and San Pedro -- Buddy Collette -- More on after-hours spots -- Les Hite -- The Woodman brothers and their father, William B. Woodman Sr.-- More on Red Callender -- More on Lionel Hampton -- Art Tatum -- Shift from clubs to after-hours spots on Central Avenue -- Attraction of Southern California to jazz musicians -- Different musical styles on Central Avenue -- Reception of bebop at Billy Berg's.
Scatman Crothers -- Slim Gaillard and Tiny Brown-Recording in the thirties -- White ownership of Central Avenue clubs -- Relaxed atmosphere on Central contrasted with New York -- Musicians Smith met in New York and Kansas City -- Central Avenue today.