Floyd Smith was a jazz guitarist born on January 25, 1917, in St. Louis, Missouri, and passed away on March 29, 1982, in Indianapolis, Indiana. His musical journey began with the ukulele before he transitioned to the guitar, studying music theory in high school. Smith's career, which spanned from the 1930s to the 1960s, saw him cover a wide range of jazz styles. In the late 1930s, he played with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra, the Sunset Royal Orchestra, and a group called the Brown Skin Models. His career was interrupted by World War II, after which he continued to play with bandleader Andy Kirk. Smith eventually led his own small groups, often trios, and was influenced by the soul-jazz style of organist Wild Bill Davis. In the early 1960s, he collaborated with Bill Doggett, contributing to Doggett's popular funky instrumental recordings. By the late 1960s, Smith was performing in a duo with Hank Marr in Atlantic City.