Long Beach California -- The late great jazz organist Jimmy Smith receives the NEA Jazz Master Award presented to him by Nancy Wilson exactly one month before he died - film by Jon Hammond ) James Oscar "Jimmy" Smith (December 8, 1925[1] or 1928[2] – February 8, 2005)[1][2] was an American jazz musician who achieved the rare distinction of releasing a series of instrumental jazz albums that often charted on Billboard. Smith helped popularize the Hammond B-3 electric organ, creating an indelible link between sixties soul and jazz improvisation.