A celebrated jazz musician earned a place of honour in the island’s musical history over a 60-year career, including the 2002 Queen's Birthday Honours list with other members of the band he founded.

Kenneth E. Smith and his Aldano Sextet were honoured for their “outstanding contribution to Bermuda’s musical heritage”, with Mr Smith also getting the 1982 Bermuda Musicians’ Union Award and a 1992 Cultural and Community Affairs Award.

The sought-after band were one of the first local groups to play on the US base in Bermuda, and went on to perform charity gigs at rest homes and the hospital.

Mr Smith’s beginning in music came in childhood from following the Warwick Amateur Marching Band, where his father was the band leader, followed by piano lessons from Winslow Fox, who led his own orchestra.

He joined the Dockyard Apprenticeship Scheme, and spent the Second World War as a ship machinist, before returning to music — incorporating his piano training into teaching himself drums.

In 1955, Mr Smith formed the Aldano Sextet that would dominate his career over 49 years until his retirement at age 82.

Mr Smith’s skills, plus a talent for reading music, got him regular work at resorts including the Belmont Hotel and Castle Harbour Hotel in days when small bands specialising in calypso and jazz earned a steady trade.

Dale Butler, a former government minister, author and historian of Bermuda music, said the band established a reputation for “punctuality and professionalism” that led to invitations from Government House, the US Consul and the tourism board.

Mr Butler included Mr Smith in his 2007 film tribute Five Profiles in Harmony, with tenor saxophonists Ross Tuzo, Earlston Smith and John (Sonny) Phipps, and pianist Earl Darrell.

The former MP for Warwick North East said he was proud to have Mr Smith among his constituents.

Mr Butler said Mr Smith was “highly thought of by musicians”.

He added: “As the drummer and leader of the band, he had high expectations and would fire you on the spot if you were even a minute late.

“I myself was rarely late for anything — but once I heard that comment, I started to show up 15 minutes early for everything.

“Bermuda was blessed to have so many gifted, committed and talented musicians and he is definitely in the Music Hall of Fame as one of our great legends.

“Earl Leader, a well-known drummer, said that Mr Smith was a fine human being and a great musician of his era. He always admired him and looked up to him as a great entertainer, drummer and showman on the drums.”

Mr Smith recalled getting hired by Mr Leader shortly after he taught himself drumming.

“In 1940, I bought a gramophone and bought some old recordings,” he told The Royal Gazette in a 2016 interview.

“I used to wind up a gramophone and try to beat the tune I heard. My mother used to get irritated by the noise and slam the door.”

After his music career took off, Mr Smith preferred to remain “a background fellow”.

He said the Bermuda Musicians Union asked him to give a speech when he was presented with his award.

“I told them I am not a man of words, I am a ‘do-what-you-got-to-do fellow’.

“After that, people started calling me Mr Do What You Got to Do.”

• Kenneth Eugene Smith, a top jazz drummer and band leader, was born on March 20, 1922. He died in October 2024, aged 102