Smilin' Jack Smith

For other people named Jack Smith, see Jack Smith (disambiguation).

Jack Ward Smith (November 16, 1913, Seattle, Washington - July 3, 2006), known as Smilin' Jack Smith, was a crooner, radio host and actor.

Born in Seattle, Washington, Smith was in a singing trio, The Three Ambassadors, from age 15. In 1939, he became a solo crooner with a voice described as a "strong baritone with a tenor lilt". He also sang with the Phil Harris Orchestra in 1932, recording "Here It is Only Monday".

Establishing a radio show in 1945, he went on to host such guests as Dinah Shore, Margaret Whiting, John Serry, Sr. and Ginny Simms. Following a guest appearance in the musical film Make Believe Ballroom (1949), Jack was offered the second lead in Warner Bros.' On Moonlight Bay (1951) opposite Doris Day.

With the television's arrival, radio saw a decline in audiences, and Jack lost his show in 1952. In 1953, Smith briefly hosted the NBC game show Place the Face, only to be replaced by Jack Bailey, who in turn was followed by Bill Cullen. Smith became the host of You Asked For It in 1958, staying with it in various roles until 1991. He also appeared as himself in the "Fearless Fonzarelli" episode of Happy Days, aired in 1975; Smith hosts the thinly veiled You Wanted To See It, bearing witness to Fonzie's feat of leaping 14 garbage cans on his motorcycle.^{[citation needed]}

Jack Smith died in 2006 in Westlake Village, California of leukemia, aged 92.

External links

• Jack Smith: The Man With the Smile in His Voice
• Jack Smith (III) at the Internet Movie Database
• San Jose Mercury News, "Jack Smith, host of 'You Asked for It,' dies at 92", July 10, 2006.

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Name	Smith, Jack, Smiling
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Date of birth	November 16, 1913
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Date of death	July 3, 2006
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