Viola Smith dies at 107, pioneer of female drummers

Viola Smith (11/29/1912, Mont Calvary -Wisconsin) died at the age of 107 on October 21. The news of her death has gone unnoticed among all those dedicated to Covid-19, the US elections that Trump has lost and, probably, because she is a woman. However, the life and work of Viola is very remarkable, she is a pioneer among women drummers, a musical instrument that she played after 100 years, almost until shortly before her death despite suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and is consequently, the longest-lived drummer in history.

At the end of the 20s of the 20th century she formed the Smith Sisters Orchestra together with five of her sisters in full swing fever, her talent did not go unnoticed and she wrote an article in the jazz magazine 'Down Beat' defending the role of women in music under the title "Give women musicians a break". Later she studied in New York with Billy Gladstone and converted the tom-tom technique, raising the drumsticks to her shoulders, as one of her hallmarks, her speed, was compared to Gene Krupa - although she pointed out that Gene was the Viola Smith masculine-, in addition to the huge amount of drums she used.

During the forties, Viola formed, together with her saxophonist sister Mildred, The Coquettes, she went to live in New York and founded another 'girl band' with the name of Hour of Charm Orchestra. Her fame led her to perform before American President Harry Truman in 1949. She also acted in the Broadway show 'Cabaret' or the famous Ted Sullivan Show on television.

In the 21st century she performed with the Forever Young Band: America's oldest Act of Professional entertainers.