Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers are internationally recognized as one of the top bands in the world performing classic American jazz, swing, blues, R&B and New Orleans music from the mid twentieth century.                                                       

Lavy is singing the Count Basie, Dinah Washington, Bessie Smith, Little Esther Phillips song book of classics and dance toons.       

                                                 

A True All-Star Band:  Lavay’s group is universally respected for it’s world-class musicianship, and includes some of the top musicians on the scene today.   Her bandmembers have played with Ray Charles, Etta James, Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, Santana, Wynton Marsalis, Big Mama Thornton, Taj Mahal, Van Morrison, Tito Puente, Steve Miller, Ramsey Lewis, Johnny Otis, Sy Oliver, Vince Guaraldi, Rufus Thomas, Rosemary Clooney, Anita O’Day and many other giants of American music. 

                                   

Authentic Jazz & Blues:  Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet are often called upon to present historical programs of music at world-class venues like Jazz at Lincoln Center and the SF Jazz  Center/SF Jazz Festival (where they are the most-booked act in the organizations history).                                               

Dancing:  Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers have long been a hit with dancers around the  USA and beyond, and were the favorite band of Frankie Manning, the legendary swing dancer and  pioneer of the Lindy Hop.  Frankie’s partner, the equally legendary Norma Miller, has said that Lavay  and her band play Count Basie’s music better than any other band today.