Jeremy Wayne Smith, 60, passed away September 24, 2020 in Quincy, Mass.
Born April 5, 1960 in Houston, Texas to Patricia Smith and Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr. He graduated from Trinity High School in Euless, Texas in 1978 and set off to be a touring musician.
Known as the Texas Tenor, his early career as a saxophonist, keyboardist, and composer took him across Texas and throughout the Midwest, South, and East Coast. Jeremy had a son, Nicholas, in 1983 with his former wife Stacey Long.
He later migrated to the West Coast, moving to Palo Alto, Ca., and then to Seattle, Wash., in 1991. From there, he started a new chapter in 2006 when he moved with his partner David – who was originally from Vandergrift, Pa. – to Quincy.
He was a member of many bands including The Kahunas, The Juke Jumpers, and Tim Casey and the Bluescats. While with The Kahunas, Jeremy played nightly at the Sheraton Inn Mockingbird as well as at Platter's Cafe, both in Dallas.
He performed with, and opened for, a host of legendary artists during his career including Chuck Berry, The Drifters, Billy Preston, Dick Dale, Charlie Musselwhite, The Coasters, Steppenwolf, and Chubby Checker.
Jeremy was a student of politics, history, aviation, The Simpsons, and cooking. While on tour, he would shadow the chefs at the venues he played, which is where he developed his love of all things culinary.
He is survived by his domestic partner of 17 years David Osheskie of Quincy, Mass; son Nicholas Smith (Angie) of Hurst, Texas, a staff sergeant in the National Guard and a senior corporal with the Dallas Police Department; and granddaughters Scarlett (6) and Vennessa (7), also of Hurst. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and former wife.
