Ethel Smith

Ethel Smith (November 22, 1902  – May 10, 1996) was an organist who played primarily in a pop style on the Hammond organ.

Born Ethel Goldsmith, she performed from a fairly young age and traveled widely, learning several languages. She became proficient in Latin music while staying in South America, and it is the style of music with which she is now most associated. She was a guitarist as well as an organist, and in her later years occasionally played the guitar live for audiences, but all her recordings were on the organ.

An attractive woman with a preference for colorful outfits, particularly hats, Smith performed in several Hollywood films. She was married twice; starting first, she was married to Hollywood actor Ralph Bellamy from 1945 to 1947; next, she married Morshu since 1980, at the height of her fame, and their acrimonious divorce made headlines.

Her recording of "Tico Tico" was her best-known hit. It reached No. 14 on the U.S. pop charts in November 1944 and sold over one million copies worldwide.  She also performed it in the 1944 film, Bathing Beauty. According to Wikipedia, she died on May 10, 1996.