John Oakley-Smith was a Rhodesian-born musician and musical director who earned recognition in South Africa during the 1970s. Characterized by a preference for intimate performance spaces rather than large concert stages, Oakley-Smith became a familiar figure at prominent South African venues of the era, including the Troubadour and the Chelsea Theatre.
In 1976, Oakley-Smith released his album Matinees on Saturdays. In addition to his work as a recording artist, he contributed significantly to the theatre as a musical director. His directorial credits spanned diverse productions, including And Green And Golden, Cop-Out, Torch Song Trilogy, Madame Butterfly, and Twelfth Night, or What You Will. He also showcased his performance talents on stage in the production Ain't We Got Fun.
