Obituaries

Survivors include three children, F. William Dommel Jr. of Hollywood, Fla., Thomas S. Dommel of Damascus and Winnie J. Harrigan of Gaithersburg; one sister; two brothers; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Mike SmithJazz Drummer

Mike Smith, 59, a drummer who for 40 years accompanied many leading jazz and pop musicians in Washington and around the world, died of prostate cancer Jan. 2 at his home in Silver Spring.

Mr. Smith settled in Washington in the mid-1960s and soon worked with pianist Bobby Timmons at the city's then-premier jazz venue, the Bohemian Caverns.

"Smitty is just amazing," the club's owner, Tony Taylor, said later in an interview with Washingtonian magazine. "I never heard a young cat with that kind of maturity and swing."

Mr. Smith's inventive approach to drumming allowed him to depart from strict time-keeping without losing the music's basic form. In 1967, less than two years after his arrival here, he was hired by Roberta Flack, with whom he toured for four years as the singer rose to stardom.

Mr. Smith described himself as "the ultimate sideman." His musical rsum included such well-known figures as Randy Brecker, John Abercrombie, Billy Eckstein, Astrud Gilberto, Freddie Hubbard, Herb Ellis, Leni Stern, Bobby Scott and Milt Jackson.

He performed with the Eddie Henderson Quintet and accompanied singer-pianist Mose Allison from 1984 to 1990. Mr. Smith frequently toured Europe and appeared with Adam Mackowicz at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 1985 and 1987. He also recorded and toured with pianist Steve Kuhn and saxophonist Dave Liebman.

Locally, he performed with dozens of musicians, including the late Keter Betts. He recorded extensively in a variety of settings and continued to perform until weeks before his death.

Mr. Smith was born in Meadville, Pa., and was introduced to jazz by his father, who had a large record collection.

He studied with a local drummer, Cootie Harris, and was visiting jam sessions with his older brother, a guitarist, when he was 12. He was performing professionally by age 14. He studied music at Youngstown State University in Ohio and at Howard University.

His marriage to Sharon Hoefler ended in divorce.

Survivors include three brothers, John M. Smith of Franklin, Pa., Thomas P. Smith of Hyattsville and Timothy Smith of Silver Spring.