Level: 2/3
Tuning: Standard

John T. Smith aka Funny Papa Smith was an American Texas blues musician. He recorded for Vocalion Records. Little is known about his life, although he was a busking street musician in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. He was believed to have been born sometime between 1880 and 1890. Smith played at parties, juke joints, and fish fries. In a two-year period, from 1930 to 1931 he made close to twenty recordings. Among the songs he recorded was his trademark song, "Howlin Wolf Blues". On occasion the recording company would call him "The Howlin Wolf". Smith's style of playing was reminiscent to Blind Lemon Jefferson. Woody has put together a lesson showing the trademark licks of Funny Papa Smith as well as other Texas blues guitar masters.