Walter Smith III '02

Originally from Houston, Texas, Walter Smith III now resides in Boston and is chair of the Woodwind Department at Berklee College of Music, helping to prepare the next generation of jazz students.

Smith is widely recognized as an adept performer, accomplished composer, and inspired educator. In the jazz tradition, he has developed under the wings of many of the genre’s greats. He is and has been a member of several legendary groups, and has performed all over the world, participating in virtually every international festival as well as playing at famed venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Village Vanguard, and the Kennedy Center. In addition, he has shared the stage and/or appeared on recordings with many jazz notables including Mulgrew Miller, Billy Childs, Joe Lovano, Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and a host of others. To date, he has appeared on over 100 recordings that have been released worldwide.

From a young age, Smith took music seriously, saying, “My first gig was playing at a McDonalds in Houston with another saxophone player. I took a solo on 'Blue Bossa.' It was terrible. People clapped, and I figured if I could get away with that and get applause, how could I fail?”