O C Smith Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp

O.C. Smith (June 21, 1932November 23, 2001) was an American musician.

Born Ocie Lee Smith in Mansfield, Louisiana, Smith moved with his parents to Little Rock, Arkansas, before their divorce saw Smith and his mother move to Los Angeles, California.

After completing a psychology degree at Southern University, Smith joined the Air Force, and served throughout the U.S., Europe and Asia. While in the Air Force, Smith began entering talent contests and toured with Horace Heidt. On his discharge in July 1955, Smith went into jazz music to pay the bills.

Smith gained his first break as a singer with Sy Oliver and made an appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. His success on that show led to a recording contract with Cadence Records.

Smith's debut release was a cover of the Little Richard hit "Tutti Frutti" in December 1955. The song was not a hit, but convinced MGM Records to sign Smith to a solo contract, resulting in three more releases, but still no hits.

In 1961, Smith was recruited by Count Basie to be his vocalist, a position he held until 1965. He also continued to record with different labels, but a hit remained elusive. By 1968, Smith's then label, Columbia Records, was ready to release him from his recording contract, when he entered the charts for the first time with "Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp", which reached number 2 in the UK Singles Chart[1] and also broke the Top 40 in the United States. In 1976 Kenny Rogers revived the hit as a country song.

Smith changed the first part of his name to O.C. and recorded a cover of the Bobby Russell song "Little Green Apples", which went to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Russell the 1969 Grammy Award for Song of the Year. It received a gold record from the R.I.A.A. for sales of one million records.[2]

He continued to record, reaching the R&B, Adult Contemporary and pop charts in his home country with the likes of "Daddy's Little Man", "Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife", "Me and You" and "Love To Burn". He also returned to the UK Singles Chart in 1977 with "Together", reaching a Top 30 position.[1]

After CBS, Smith united with Charles Wallert, who wrote and produced the title track as well as the album for "Dreams Come True" that returned Smith to the national charts. The Whatcha Gonna Do album, resulted in three nationally charted singles for a total of 40 weeks. This album contained "Brenda", "You're My First, My Last My Everything" and "Spark Of Love". Additional hits "The Best Out Of Me" and "After All Is Said And Done" established Smith as a Beach Music star. Nominated for six awards at the third Beach Music Awards, Smith captured five.

Smith became pastor and founder of The City Of Angels Church in Los Angeles, California where practised for 16 years. One of his last recordings, "Save The Last Dance For Me" reached the number one position on the Rhythm n' Beach Top 40 chart.

Shortly after his death, Governor Jim Hodges proclaimed June 21, 2002, 'O.C. Smith Day' in the State of South Carolina. Smith was posthumously elected to the Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame in November 2002.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Smith
• Son
• of
• Hickory
• Holler's
• Tramp
• oldies
• sixties
• 60s
• soul
• American
• musician
• UK
• Singles
• Chart
• Top
• 40
• Billboard

[yatsey1978]

what a tremendous song. He had a real mans voice!!

My dad loved this song, used to blast it out of his car when we were coming home late! Memories.

[TDSouledOut1]

The finest record ever made about pimps, prostitutes and the depth of motherly love. OC absolutely nails it, don't you just love SOUL music.

[goinxnginx]

@Dialoquese Thanks for that marvelous post. One of my favorite memories is singing this at age 17 or so with three buddies, in a bar. We fed enough quarters in the juke box to play it about ten times, and we danced like nobody was watching and sang along with OC. This is one of the best pop arrangements/performances EVER. All three buddies are gone, but I will always remember this night with them. I hope they still juke to this song in Heaven.

[omygoshineedausernam]

O.C. delivered some of the best songs I have heard in my 62 years. He had more soul in his little finger than I have in my whole body! You should hear his version of "Long Black Limousine". Man, it will give you chill bumps!

[MrRosspatzelt]

great song!

[49jubilee]

this was one song i havent heard since it was out 1969!! stations would play motown or woodstock. etc. i didnt know the song was about bad crops that caused her to go into prostitution. its sad she didnt go ask the churches for help

[radiorelax259]

great music one of my all time favourites.

[ricbarwil]

Brilliant 60s classic, you very rarely here it now, thanks for that

[1forlooker]

I am my mother's son. Thank you mama for making me me. I promise to be one of your greatest deeds. Rest in peace!

[gooocookin]

@justhavingmydinner REALLY, YOU FIGURED THAT OUT, YOU WOULD BE SUPRISED WHAT SOME MOTHERS HAD TO DO TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE AND A ROOF OVER THEIR CHILDRENS HEAD CAUSE OF ALL THE DEAD BEAT DADS IN THE WORLD REAL TALK FOR REAL WORLD SITUATIONS. HIS MOTHER DID WHAT SHE HAD TO DO!

[Brilliantbeing]

@gooocookin @ So did my mom. I learned the words through sheer repetition. It seemed like yesterday I would see my mother playing this song over and over on the turntable. Yes, YouTube is very special when used right.