 He moved to New York City, where he met George Benson, the guitarist for Jack McDuff's band.Benson and Smith connected on a personal level, and the two formed the George Benson Quartet, featuring Lonnie Smith, in 1966.After two albums under Benson's leadership, "It's Uptown" and "Cookbook", Smith recorded his first solo album ("Finger Lickin' Good Soul Organ") in 1967, with George Benson and Melvin Sparks on guitar, Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax, and Marion Booker on drums.