RIP Carl Smith

RIP Carl Smith March 15, 1927 January 16, 2010

One of the most prolific hit makers on the country scene, Carl Smith charted every year between 1951 and 1973 witch eddectively equated to his tenure with Columbia Records. He was born on 15th march 1927 in Maynardville Tennessee witch also happend to be the birthplace of Roy Acuff. He grew up listening to the grand ole opry and the local country radio stations in Knoxville, Tennessee and got on to WROL in Knoxville in 1944 courtesy of Cas Walker a local grosery store owned who sponsored him. Carl did odd jobs as a youngster to save money for guitar lessons and at the age of 13 won a local talent contest. After leaving school he completed his military service in the navy serving in the pacific for 18 months. On his return, Carl worked with the Brewster Brothers and in the late 40s moved between an assortment of radio stations, evantually returning to WROL towards the end of 1948 and played bass in Skeets Williams band. When the band moved on, Carl started palying in Archie Campbells band. In early 1950 peer international rep Troy Martin Knoxville in search for material, and local dobro player George "Speedy" West slipped him some demos Carl had recorded. Martin took them to Don Law at Columbia and also to Jack Stapp at WSM. As a result Carl auditioned for the Opry and in May was singed up and a Columbia contrackt swiftly followed. The record company eased their new signing in gently and it took him a year to register his first hit, but once it came it opened the floodgates. Along with a number of his Columbia country colleagues, some of Carls recordings foreshadowed rockabilly and some were actually rockabilly. His Go Boy Go predated Elvis Thats all right by a couple of months. Carl made sure that he recruited only top musicians into his band, the Tune Masters. So much so that Columbia sometimes used them on sessions as was the case with the Everly Brothers recording debut on thel label before they signed with. Carl married June Carter and they had a daughter by the name of Carlene Carter who eventually made something of a name for herself in the music business. They split up in 1956 and June went to become Mrs Johnny Cash, whilst Carl got re-married to Decca recording artist Goldie Hill. He quitrecording in 1973 but was lured back to record on Hickory in the late 70s. However he gradually eased himself out of performing and recording to take up the life of a gentleman horse breeder on his property near Franklin, Tennessee. He was elected to the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 2003.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Country

[luckybriaN100]

Carl was definitely a pioneer. Thank you for this effort.

[loopencash]

I remember when he had a show in the 60's out of Montreal Canada. He was what country music is about. (Paul menard played fiddle)

I will miss him.

[danzigvi]

rip Carl. What a great singer you will be missed.

[wcbbernie]

carl smith will never be forgoten, RIP,

[geyser]

Thanks...