Patrick Verne "Putter" Smith, also known as Putter Smith, born on January 19,
1941, in Bell, California, was an American musician, double bass player, and
actor. Inspired by his older brother Carson Smith, Patrick began playing the
bass at age eight and gave his first concert at thirteen. In the early 1960s, he
started performing live with notable artists such as Thelonious Monk, Art
Blakey, Duke Ellington, and Ray Charles. Throughout his career, Smith
collaborated with a wide range of musicians, including Billy Eckstine, Diane
Schuur, Lee Konitz, Bruce Forman, Jackie and Roy, Ca...