MARYVILLE, Tenn. - Larry Gene Smithee, 74, died Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 at Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville, Tenn.
He was born in Batesville, Ark. to Juanita Dobbs Smithee and the late B.W. Smithee. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Christine Smithee of Maryville, Tenn.; mother, Juanita Smithee of Poplar Bluff, Mo.; sister, Diane (Michael) Dodd of Poplar Bluff; nephews, Andrew (Marcie) Dodd of Austin, Texas and Steven (Mandy) Dodd of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and great nieces Isabel and Olivia Dodd.
An accomplished jazz trumpeter, Smithee began his trumpet studies at age 12. After graduating high school in Poplar Bluff, Mo., he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in music education from Arkansas State University, and received a doctor of education degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
His teaching career included high school and community college levels followed by director of bands at the University of Southern Colorado; then in 1991, joined the Maryville (Tennessee) College music faculty before retiring in 2012. While teaching at Maryville College, he led the Maryville College Jazz Band, and founded the Maryville College-Community Concert Band. He was also instrumental in creating and directing the East Tennessee Jazz Orchestra. Most recently, he performed with the Tennessee Wind Symphony, Ensemble Swing Time and Knoxville Concert Band.
Smithee's early career also included serving as the music arranger for the United States Air Force Band (Shreveport, LA), performing with the rhythm-and-blues group The Louisiana Purchase, and performing with several nationally known artists and touring groups, including Ray Charles, Mel Torme and the Bob Hope Show.
Services with Honor Guard were held Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 in Maryville, Tenn.
Paid