Tommy Smith is a jazz saxophonist, composer and educator. The jazz critic Richard Cook said of him, "Of the generation which emerged in the mid-80s, he might be the most outstandingly talented". ==Early career== Thomas William Ellis Smith was born in Edinburgh on 27 April 1967, to a Scottish mother, Brenda Ann Urquhart, and father, William John Ellis, whom he never met. Smith was brought up in the Wester Hailes area of the city, where he was encouraged by his stepfather, George Smith, an avid jazz fan and drummer in the Gene Krupa style, to take up the tenor saxophone at the age of twelve. At a weekly jazz workshop, he met doctor and pianist Vincenzo Crucioli who spotted his talent and took him under his wing. Together with John Rea, Ienne hunter and Vincenzo, the group performed regularly in the Edinburgh Jazz circuit and went to win a 'Youth Jazz Festival' in 1981. Tommy attributes much of his success to the Crucioli family who took him under their wings and served as a well of inspiration. 

April 27th, 1967 in Edinburgh (Age 57)