An American boogie-woogie pianist and composer, Clarence "Pine Top" Smith was a pivotal figure in the development of the genre during the 1920s. His 1928 recording of "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie" is widely considered the first boogie-woogie song to be released, popularizing the term and influencing countless musicians. Tragically, his promising career was cut short when he was accidentally shot and killed in 1929 at the age of 24.