Ethel Smith Organist who played pop organ Date of Birth: 22.11.1910 Country: USA

Biography of Ethel Smith

Ethel Smith, born Ethel Goldsmith in 1910 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, was an organist known for her popular style of playing. She released 26 albums during her career and authored several music books and textbooks, where she revealed the secrets of her own playing style. Her virtuosic playing can also be heard in old Disney cartoons. However, her biggest success in life was undoubtedly "Tico, Tico," a melody that has become familiar to audiences around the world, earning her the nickname "Tico Tico Lady." Thus, Ethel became the world's first "pop organist."

Although Ethel was proficient in several languages, including French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and German, music remained her true passion. She worked as a pianist at the St. Regis Hotel in New York, where she was noticed by a film studio agent who offered her a job in the movies. It is known that Ethel once decided to earn some extra money by demonstrating instruments in a music store in California. Customers came for several days to listen to her playing, and soon her name became well-known, leading to invitations to accompany singers in film studios, radio, and various events.

Ethel's star truly rose in the early 1940s after her trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. One evening, she heard a melody coming from a local dance floor and went to inquire about the musicians playing it. She couldn't find out who the composer was, but she learned that it was a completely nameless Argentinean melody. However, the tune deeply touched her soul, and Ethel embarked on a bold and original experiment. She began playing this music on the seemingly unsuitable instrument of the organ. Her unique interpretation resonated with many, and soon wealthy Argentinians and tourists were coming to listen to Ethel. This is how her signature composition, "Tico Tico," was born.

Upon returning to the United States, Ethel recorded her hit, and "Tico Tico" quickly became a sensation. Ethel was young, beautiful, and incredibly exotic-looking, effortlessly playing a popular melody on a classical instrument. She looked incredibly elegant behind her trademark white organ. In addition to fame, the composition brought Smith financial stability and professional demand. During this period, which coincided with World War II, Ethel appeared in several movies, performed in Milan, Paris, and London, as well as giving concerts for the army. The sales of the "Tico Tico" record in 1944 exceeded one million copies and topped the charts.

In 1945, Ethel married Ralph Bellamy and divorced him in 1947. Throughout her stage career, Ethel Smith released 26 albums and became the author of several music books and textbooks, where she revealed the secrets of her playing style. Her virtuosic playing can also be heard in old Disney cartoons. However, her biggest success in life was undoubtedly "Tico, Tico," a melody that remains familiar to audiences worldwide. Ethel Smith, also known as the "Tico Tico Lady," became the world's first "pop organist." She continued playing until the mid-1970s and then quietly settled in Palm Beach, Florida. Ethel Smith passed away on February 10, 1996.