Jabbo Smith, born Cladys Smith on December 24, 1908, in Pembroke, Georgia, was an influential American jazz trumpeter known for his virtuoso playing. After his father's death, Smith moved with his mother to Savannah and, at age six, was placed in the Jenkins Orphanage in Charleston, South Carolina, where he learned to play the trumpet and trombone. By age ten, he was touring with the Jenkins Band. At sixteen, Smith left the orphanage to pursue a professional music career, initially playing in bands in Philadelphia and Atlantic City before moving to Manhattan in 1925.

Smith's early career was marked by his participation in the Broadway musical "Keep Shufflin'" alongside Fats Waller and James P. Johnson. In 1929, he formed the Rhythm Aces and recorded 19 tracks for Brunswick Records, which, despite not selling well initially, are now considered significant in jazz history. Smith was seen as a rival to Louis Armstrong due to his innovative style and technical prowess.

In the 1930s, Smith moved to Milwaukee, where he played music part-time and worked for a car rental company. He made a comeback in the late 1960s, performing in various jazz festivals and shows, including the musical "One Mo’ Time." Smith toured Europe with the Hot Antic Jazz Band, and their live performances were recorded and released in 1982.

Jabbo Smith passed away on January 16, 1991, in New York City at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering jazz musician who challenged the boundaries of trumpet playing in his era.