Dr. Lonnie Smith was an influential American jazz Hammond B3 organist known for his soulful style and pioneering contributions to the genre. Rising to prominence as part of the George Benson Quartet in the 1960s, he later recorded iconic albums with Lou Donaldson for Blue Note Records before launching a successful solo career. Smith also founded his own label, Pilgrimage, and was honored nine times as the best organist by the Jazz Journalists Association.