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Although his repertoire included almost every popular musical work, Brooks Smith was best known as an accompanist, and he knew the entire range of accompaniments.
While studying at Juilliard under Josef and Rosina Lhevinne, Smith focused on learning the song accompaniment repertoire, graduating in 1939. Among the first musicians he accompanied were mezzo-soprano Rise' Stevens and longtime N.Y. Metropolitan baritone Mack Harrell. But he is best remembered as the accompanist for violinist Jascha Heifetz. The easygoing, unassuming Smith was a perfect match for the temperamental and demanding Heifetz, and their partnership lasted for 18 years, from 1954, when Heifetz parted with longtime accompanist Emanuel Bay, until Heifetz retired in 1972. During this time, Smith had a brief tenure at the University of Southern California, where the Heifetz Master Class series listed here on IMDB was made.
In 1962, Smith was appointed to the Eastman School of Music, where he served as an instructor in chamber music and piano accompaniment, then moved back to California and became an instructor at USC, where he remained until his retirement in 1988. His students spoke and speak of him reverently. Smith, while not an overbearing teacher, always demanded that his students be familiar with the solo repertoire (Smith himself could play almost anything on the piano, including symphonies, string quartets, and movie scores) so that their technical skills wouldn't suffer.
Smith was an avid crossword fan, and he had a large vocabulary and was rarely stumped by an obscure word that his students or friends would spring upon him.
Smith broke his right shoulder in 1986 and was unable to effectively play the piano with his right hand. He dealt with this by buying and learning music for left-hand only.
Smith died in Covina California in 2000 at the age of 88.
