Sammi Smith - Loving Arms

August 5, 1943 - February 12, 2005
Sammi Smith was born in Orange County, California on August 5, 1943 but spent her childhood in the Southwest. She dropped out of school at the age of eleven and began to sing professionally in nightclubs. She was only fifteen when she married, and eventually had four children. In 1967, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee. When Johnny Cash got wind of her talent, she was soon signed with Columbia Records. She produced her first minor country hit in 1968 titled "So Long, Charlie Brown, Don't Look for Me Around".

In 1970, Smith signed with a new label Mega Records and her first hit on label was called "He's Everywhere," which went to No. 25 on the country charts. She followed in 1970 with her first major hit "Help Me Make It Through the night." The song went to No.1 on Billboard country charts and to No.6 on Billboard pop charts. The song was Smith's career hit and the one that became her signature song.

At first, record companies were uncomfortable with the song's honest sexuality, which was new for country music, but DJs tested the song and the response from listeners was enormous. The song was composed by Kris Kristofferson and was later covered by Gladys Knight and the Pips and Elvis Presley; both versions achieved modest chart success. In 1972, Smith won a Grammy Award for the song. She also won the title Best Female Country Vocal Performance that year, and Kristofferson took songwriting awards. The song made Smith and Kristofferson household names in the music business.

After touring the U.S. and Great Britain, Sammi moved to Dallas in 1973. She joined
Waylon and Willie Nelson in the "outlaw" tradition. Her performances with them
inspired Waylon to give her the nickname "Girl Hero". Her close personal and
professional relationship with Willie and Waylon endured many years.

During the 1970s she had chart success with many other songs including, Then You Walk In (No. 10, 1971) and Today I Started Loving You Again (No. 9, 1975). Her final Top-20, Cheatins a Two Way Street, peaked ay No. 16 on Billboard in 1981. Throughout her career, Sammi recorded Top-20 singles under the Mega, Elektra, Cyclone and Snd Factory Labels. Smith wrote songs for fellow artists, including "Cedartown, Georgia" for Waylon Jennings. Her final appearance on the Grand Ole Opry was with her son, actor and recording artist Waylon Payne in August of 2004.

Sammi Smith passed away on February 12, 2005 after a lengthy illness at her home in Oklahoma City. She was 61 years old. Smith was buried in Guymon, OK. At the time of her death, an independent film documentary was being filmed about her life and years in the music business.

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