Larry G Smith

Larry Gene Smith died peacefully in North Logan, UT on February 24 at the tender age of 87. His health was challenged by various illnesses that weakened his body, though his mind was sharp as a tack until the end. He passed surrounded by his family, who eased his transition with hymns, family songs, and expressions of love.

Birth & Education

Larry was born on June 22nd, 1937 in Logan, Utah to Melda and William Smith. Raised in Franklin, Idaho, he was the eldest brother to Kent (Linda) Smith and Pamela (Dennis) Baird. He loved his family and they lived an idyllic life in Franklin. He attended Franklin Elementary, Preston High, Utah State University {BA, MS} and University of Utah {Doctorate of Music Education}.

Developing Musical Skills

As a youngster, Larry developed his skills as a saxophonist and pianist. He played with several bands. At age 13, Larry played with the Lee Wheeler Orchestra around the Preston/Franklin area. They were a favorite at Deer Cliff Inn. He joined The Scotsmen at USU, and soon became their leader. They played dances and events. They also performed as USU’s pep band. Larry wrote the raucous arrangement of USU’s fight song, the famous “Scotsman”, known to every USU student and sung at every game and graduation.

Love and Family:

While at Utah State, fate brought Larry (Dad) together with the future love of his life, Bonnie Leila Baird (Mom). Bonnie came to USU on a scholarship earned as Miss Idaho, having won the Most Talented Musician award in the 1958 Miss America pageant. A gifted clarinetist, Bonnie joined the marching band where Larry was the drum major. He cleverly wrote Bonnie's name next to his on a bus seating chart for a long band trip to Moscow, Idaho–using department head Max Dalby’s famed fountain pen! During the band trip, some magic happened and two talented, beautiful people were caught up in a powerful attraction that developed mile after mile. Larry crooned “That’s All” in her ear, which became their love song. One tune they sang in harmony on the bus, they continued to sing together for their entire 54-year marriage, their own faster jazzier version of, “Let’s Get Away From It All”.

Needless to say, they were married August 14, 1959. They sealed their love at the Idaho Falls Temple, and became the ultimate power couple. They moved to Star Valley, Wyoming, where Larry taught band and choir. Bonnie teamed up with him to direct the musicals. 

After Star Valley, Larry taught Band and English Literature at Ben Lomond High School and Mound Fort Jr. High in Ogden, Utah. They moved to Logan, UT when Utah State University recruited Larry as a music instructor. 

Mom and Dad had numerous adventures, traveling Europe together, long car trips singing together, visiting kids, seeing great performances, dining out, dancing, and basically, living it up. They devotedly cared for each other, never losing the romance. When Mom was diagnosed with progressive dementia, Dad became her patient, tender caregiver. Our expectations were that she would gradually decline over the next 10 years. However, it turned out to be only a short 2 years before she passed away. It was devasting. And Dad was heartbroken to lose her. In the 11 years that she has been gone, Dad has been very open with us and his friends about how much he misses her. We celebrate their heavenly reunion. We are so happy for them! 

USU Professor

During his 38 years at USU, Larry taught Composition, Scoring & Arranging, Improvisation, Music Theory, Jazz History and directed the two Jazz Ensembles. He taught countless students private piano, flute and saxophone lessons. Larry wrote hundreds of arrangements for his jazz ensembles, the USU concert band, Orchestra, Marching band, and Alumni Band. He wrote many arrangements for his daughter Monica to sing with the bands. 

Larry and Bonnie’s Collaborations

As Dad and Mom raised their kids, Dad developed the USU Jazz program. Their children, the USU Jazz program, and Bonnie’s breakthrough therapies for dementia clients became their proudest joint legacies. 

Larry and Bonnie worked tirelessly together, supportively bolstering each other’s careers. After each USU Jazz Band concert, Bonnie threw legendary band parties for Larry’s musicians and their friends. She helped Larry type his doctoral thesis. We kids would go to sleep and wake up to the sound of typing every day until they finished. Larry helped Bonnie with her job at Sunshine Terrace, supported her guest-speaker trips around the world, helped her edit her book, her grant proposals, and much more.

Smith Family Band

Mom & Dad had four children: Ned, Monica, Shane, and Nate. Out of a desire to share their love of performing, Mom and Dad created the Smith Family Band. It began in 1969, with Mom on electric bass, Dad on keyboards, Monica (age 6) on vocals, Ned (age 9) on drums, later to be joined by even younger Shane and Nate on vocals and drums. Our first 1969 hit was a rock version of “Give Said The Little Stream”. Mom and Dad would say, “A family that plays together stays together.” So when “Love Will Keep Us Together!” came out, it became our theme song. In addition to numerous gigs for various occasions, our annual favorite was playing at the Logan 24th of July Celebration. Dad would write out the music the night before and the family band would learn it the morning of the performance. It was high drama followed by great fun. The entire family continues to derive joy and excitement from performing music, and have passed it on to their families. 

Grandpa Smith

Grandpa and Grandma Smith (Tea-Party Grandma & Grandpa Video) were all-in grandparents. Devoting time, resources and so much love to each grandkid. Every Sunday, they joined Monica’s big family for dinner. They would hang out gleefully in the grandkid bedlam all afternoon and into the evening. 

They were also all-in with Ned, Shane, and Nate’s kids who lived around the US. They called often to grill us and/or our spouses for detailed reports on their grandkids' escapades, achievements and struggles. 

Their trips to visit us were longed for and cherished whenever they happened. The grandkids loved to come to Logan to visit them, too. Grandpa & Grandma would guide the kids on Napolian Dynamite tours, Logan Zoo visits, trips to Bear Lake, drives to see the Elk at Hardware Ranch, and tubing down the canal. The out-of-town grandkids have fond memories of Christmases, Thanksgivings, and Summer Vacations spent in Logan with the grandparents and cousins. 

Shane’s son, Tavis, even came to Logan to live with them for several months. He cooked for them almost every night. And tenderly helped take care of Grandma who was starting to show signs of dementia. 

Grandpa also picked up 5 step-grandkids along the way, and instantly showed them that they were definitely his grandkids by demonstrating the same deep interest and devotion that he showers on his other grandkids. 

Since Grandma’s passing in 2013, Grandpa remained highly engaged with all his grandkids. He felt fortunate to live long enough to meet and go crazy over his new great-grandkids, too. They are equally nuts about him. It’s been a love fest.

Gigging Life

While living in Ogden, Larry played with the Four Sounds house band at the Ogden Country Club. They also played all over Utah. 

In the early seventies Larry formed Sounds Unlimited with guitarist Mike Christiansen–the final iteration being Bonnie on bass, and son Ned on drums. Bonnie & Ned played with the band for its last seven years. They were often joined by their daughter Monica and by Mike’s wife, Kathy Christiansen on additional vocals. They played Gold & Green Balls, dances, weddings, night clubs, country clubs, jazz concerts, frat and sorority parties, and Hawn’s Lounge in Hyrum, UT where, even though the bandstand had a protective chicken wire barrier at the front of the stage, they flinched every time a bottle hit it and shattered. Sounds Unlimited continued into the early 80’s with other great musicians, whom Larry loved. After Sounds Unlimited, Mike Christiansen formed the last rock band that Larry would play in, “Freelance”. Larry left rock music in the mid 80’s. However, he still loved sitting in on flute and sax to the delight of Shane, Nate, and Ned’s rock bands from time-to-time. But, other than that, all day, every day, he devoted himself to the particular world of music he loved most, writing jazz, arranging jazz, practicing jazz, and performing JAZZ. 

Larry was one of the founders of the annual Sunburst Club Glen Miller Shows. After its last run, the Larry Smith Jazz Kicks Band played for the Celebrate America Shows, which were also focused on World War II themes. These two popular shows featured comedy routines, and fantastic dancing & singing, all backed by Jazz Kicks who were featured prominently on stage. Larry’s son Ned traveled from Seattle to play with the Jazz Kicks band for many of the Celebrate America shows, and loved it. Thousands of people attended Sunburst Club and Celebrate America annually for almost two decades. Fans still tell us about how much they loved hitting the dance floor after those shows. 

Far Reaching Influence as a music educator and performer

“That job was exactly what I was born to do. I got up every day excited to go to work.” 

–Larry Smith regarding teaching at USU. 

Dad had a hugely positive effect on so many people who have studied with him. Numerous students went on to become professional performers, military musicians, composers, arrangers, recording artists, band teachers, private teachers, and college music professors. Many others have told us they applied his high standards, teachings, and example in their non-musical careers. 

Throughout his career he received numerous accolades. 

1958: USU Talent of the Year (as undergaduate)
1982: USU Robins Award
2009: Larry & Bonnie were awarded the USU Alumni Merit Citation 
2016: Utah Music Educators Hall of Fame 
2017: Caine College of the Arts Champion of the Arts
2023: Caine College of the Arts Distigushed Service Award

Deep pride in Children and Students 

Dad enjoyed seeing his flock of children, grandchildren, and former students perform. He and Mom would even drive or fly to New York, Boston, and Hollywood, to see their kids play a gig that was important to us. 

He loved learning how his students had moved on with their lives. He felt their ups and downs, and relished telling heroic stories of their adversities, breakthroughs and achievements. 

He possessed and cherished sharply detailed memories of his USU Jazz Band students. He not only remembered their names, he could also recite where each student was raised. He could tell you what student played a solo in what song in what academic term of what year in either of his two USU Jazz Bands. 

Church & Community Service

Larry was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He served in many callings including Sunday School and Primary teacher, Cub Scout Master, and High Counselor in the USU Married Stake. He used his God given musical talent to compose and arrange music for road shows, and musicals. His bands played for numerous LDS youth dances. He served as Ward Chorister, and almost continuously as the beloved director and arranger for his North Logan Ward choirs. He loved playing every week for 15 years to support Bonnie’s sing-alongs at her Adult Day Care center for dementia clients at Sunshine Terrace. 

Retirement? NO WAY!

After Larry retired from USU, he started his ultimate passion project: The Larry Smith Jazz Kicks Band. –Declaring it was “Just for kicks.” 

The Kicks band has played two concerts per year since it’s inception. Additionally, they have played the Glen Miller shows and other gigs. Larry chose a different artist or theme for every concert. On concerts that featured the music of only one artist or composer, Larry as an arranger and player, and the other players were able to dive deeply into an intimate study of that artist. Larry, his band, and his audience loved these themed concerts. Because his favorite arrangements of the artist’s tunes were often not available, Larry transcribed each of the 18 instruments note for note from the original recordings. Some of the artist deep dives were, Chic Corea, Buddy Rich, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Maynard Ferguson, Thelonious Monk, and many others. Recently he’s been doing themes on composers like Cole Porter and Richard Rogers. He also wrote his own red hot arrangements of his favorite tunes for Kicks, including hot Latin Jazz concerts. Larry loved the Kicks band. Many of his students became his colleagues as they played in Kicks together. He cherished each one of them. So many were close supporters, collaborators and Larry’s confidants throughout the years–you know who you all are. A group of Kicks players came to his hospice room a few days before he passed away, and played slow gentle tunes, medium swingers, and raucus fast tunes for him. Every song soft drum solos expertly played on pizza boxes to keep the perfect volume for the room. Larry even attempted to sit up and play with them, with his nephew, saxophonist Brian Baird helping him hold his saxophone. But, he was too weak to play. 

“Don’t be too disappointed”, he told them. We’d been trying to talk him out of it in advance!! But, you all know Larry!

Larry would get up every morning and work on Kicks arrangements. When he’d get too tired from that, he’d practice sax. When his lip had had enough he’d go back to arranging. When he’d get too tired from arranging again, he’d practice flute until his embouchure would give out. Then he’d repeat the whole thing again and again throughout the day, working 12 hours and more. He told Shane, sometimes I just don’t feel tired so I keep working until 1:00 AM.

Last fall, when recovering from a severe illness, in a great rehabilitation facility, against good-medical-advice, he checked himself out because, “I don’t want to disappoint the band. I gotta go home and get my arrangements done before Kicks starts rehearsals.”

Larry’s favorite big band chart

Larry’s favorite chart is Count Basie’s Corner Pocket, written by Count Baisie’s guitarist, Freddie Greene. Larry has always insisted that Corner Pocket be played at his funeral. “Because that’s where I’ll be–-in the corner pocket. And when it comes to the big shout chorus at the end, I’m gonna rise up outta my coffin.”

So in the second part of the viewing, Monday night, the Larry Smith Jazz Kicks Band is going to play Corner Pocket. 

Larry Smith Kicks Band Memorial Concert

Larry would want us to make sure we invite you to hear the Jazz Kicks band play the Larry Smith Memorial Concert on April 1, 2025 at the USU Chase Fine Arts Center’s Morgan Theater. Each song is one of Larry’s favorites. He chose them for the program fully expecting to recover and play his sax on stage with the band.

Larry is preceded in death by his Parents William and Melda Smith, Parents-in-law Leila and Seth Baird, Beloved wife Bonnie, Grandson Tavis Smith (Shane), brothers-in-law Dale and Max Baird, sister-in-law Norma Baird.

Larry leaves behind his children, Ned (Angela) Smith, Monica (Thomas) Fronk, Shane (Andrea) Smith and Nate Smith; siblings Kent (Linda) Smith and Pamela (Dennis) Baird, 25 grandkids and 19 great-grandkids, his beloved nieces and nephews, and countless musical / jazz daughters & sons. 

Services:
Viewing
Monday, March 3, 2025
6:00-8:00 Viewing
8:00 New Orleans band leads procession into the mortuary chapel.
8:15 Larry Smith Jazz Kicks Band plays a few of Larry’s favorite songs including Count Basie’s Corner Pocket mentioned above. 

Allen-Hall Mortuary
34 E Center St, Logan, UT 

Funeral
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
9:30-10:30 Viewing
11:00 Funeral Service

North Logan Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Saints Chapel
1550 E 1900 N, North Logan, UT

To contribute to the Larry Smith Jazz Scholarship Fund point your phone camera at or, click here. 

Or, send a check to
Colleen Hobson
University Advancement
1590 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-1590

Please write the checks to USU Foundation with “Larry Smith Jazz Endowment” on the memo line of the check.

We’d like to extend our deepest thanks to the caregivers of Maple Springs, Cache Valley Hospital, and Rocky Mountain Homecare & Hospice. Dad loved everyone who took care of him. 

Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.