Lonnie Liston Smith is an American jazz, soul, and funk musician known for his work as a keyboardist during the 1970s and 1980s. He pioneered a fusion style that combined jazz, funk, and spiritual themes, a unique blend that was innovative for its time. His band, Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes, released influential albums like "Expansions" and "Visions of a New World." Smith's unique use of electric piano and acoustic sounds has left an indelible mark on the landscape of jazz and fusion music.