Smith was a guitarist's guitarist. He had a unique style - fluid melody played almost entirely from chord voicings, alt tunings, and an almost piano-sense of harmony. Barney Kessel and Bill Frisell are among his ardent fans.

Smith picked up the guitar via his banjo-playing father. By 13 he was giving guitar lessons, fuelled by his love of Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian on the radio. Glenn Miller later tried to hire him, but was overruled by U.S. Army officials (Smith was then in the Air Corps.)

Smith played Ed Sullivan's and Benny Goodman's shows and for the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Symphony and NBC Symphony Orchestras. He recorded with Benny Goodman in 1951 and then formed his own jazz group � playing regularly at the famous Birdland club, where Charlie Parker became a keen admirer. His "Walk, Don't Run" was first covered by Chet Atkins before The Ventures made it a smash-hit.