|
 TCB's Legend
Series
Carl Smith -
'Mr. Country'
Unlike his modern day counterparts
with their onstage and pressroom antics, Carl achieved his success
with his music. He didn't have to swing from ropes, light the stage
with flames, or join a baseball team. He worked at his craft
consistently and left his mark on many a solid country song. Whether
it was a smooth as glass ballad or an up tempo, honky tonk number,
or in later years, a western swing tune, Carl's style and charisma
polished them off with class.
Although he was steadfastly country,
Carl by no means rested on his laurels. His career highlights and
accomplishments speak for themselves. Ruling the 50's along with
Hank Williams Sr. and Webb Pierce, Carl accumulated 31 top 10 hit
records alone during that decade. For almost 25 years (from
1951-1974) the Billboard Country Chart was home to at least one Carl
Smith single a year. One his most lasting contributions to country
music was a little controversial at the time. Carl was one of the
first country artists to regularly perform and record with a
drummer, giving his straight up honky tonk a unparalleled edge.
In 1979, after a lifetime of
contributions to country music, Carl Smith retired with his wife,
Goldie Hill, to their horse ranch outside of Nashville.
Whether it's Carl Smith, or anyone
else, it's sad that personality differences, politics and biases (or
any other reason) interfere with rightful recognition of talent and
contribution to the history of country music. It's sad that 'Why
isn't Carl Smith in the Country Music Hall of Fame?' remains one of
the most unanswerable questions in country music today. Most who
reply to the query don't know the answer, other than to say he
should be.
Photo Gallery
Click on thumbnail to see full size photo
Carl Smith
Career Timeline
1927- March 15th Carl Smith
was born in Maynardsville, TN (also the birthplace of Roy Acuff)
1940's - legend has it Carl
sold flower seeds to purchase his first guitar, and mowed grass to
pay for lessons
1942- (age 15) played with the
San Francisco based 'Kitty Dibble and her Dude Ranch Ranglers'
1944- learned to play string
bass - worked during the summer at WROL (Knoxville, TN)
*somewhere during 1945- 48 he
served a briefly in the Navy
1948- worked at WROL Knoxville
playing bass for Skeets Williamson and Molly O' Day
1949- worked at WWNC
Asheville, NC
1950- moved to Nashville,
where he joined WSM and the Grand Ole Opry and signed with Columbia
Records
1952- married June Carter,
first #1 'Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way'
1953- 'Hey Joe' hit #1, also
charts 'Trademark' and 'Satisfaction Guaranteed
1954- Loose Talk went to #1
1957- married Goldie Hill,
appeared in 'Badge of Marshall Brennan'
1950's- backed by The
Tunesmiths:
Sammy Pruett - lead guitar
(formally with Hank Williams' band)
Dale Potter - fiddle
Johnny Sibert - steel
Buddy Harman - drums
Junior Huskey - bass
Jimmy Smith - guitar
1956- resigned from the Grand
Ole Opry - joined a package tour
organized by Philip Morris
1961- appeared on ABC TV
series: Four Star Jubliee
1962- starred in Buffalo Guns
along with Webb Pierce and Marty Robbins
*mid 1960's- hosts TV series
'Carl Smith's Country Music Hall' in Canada (syndicated in the U.S.)
1967- charted in the Top 10
for the last time with 'Deep Water'
1974- marked the first year
since 1951 that he didn't release a single that charted in the Top
40
1975 - 1978- signed with and
recorded for Hickory Records
1979- retired from country
music after three decades and 93 charted singles
1981- briefly returned to
record updated versions of his classic hits for a
TV-promoted album
Discography
|
1956 |
Carl Smith |
CBS |
|
1956 |
Softly and Tenderly |
CBS |
|
1957 |
Sentimental Songs |
CBS |
|
1957 |
Smith's the Name |
Columbia |
|
1957 |
Sunday Down South |
Columbia |
|
1958 |
Let's Live a Little |
Columbia |
|
1960 |
The Carl Smith Touch |
Columbia |
|
1962 |
Easy to Please |
Columbia |
|
1963 |
Tall, Tall Gentleman |
Columbia |
|
1964 |
There Stands the
Glass |
Columbia |
|
1965 |
I Want to Live and
Love |
Columbia |
|
1965 |
Kisses Don't Lie |
Columbia |
|
1966 |
Man With a Plan |
Columbia |
|
1967 |
The Country
Gentleman Sings His Favorites |
CBS |
|
1967 |
The Country
Gentleman |
Columbia |
|
1967 |
Satisfaction
Guaranteed |
Harmony |
|
1968 |
Country on My Mind |
Columbia |
|
1968 |
Deep Water |
Columbia |
|
1968 |
Gentleman in Love |
Harmony |
|
1969 |
Carl Smith Sings a
Tribute to Roy Acuff |
Columbia |
|
1969 |
Faded Love and
Winter Roses |
Columbia |
|
1969 |
Take It Like a Man |
Harmony |
|
1970 |
I Love You Because |
Columbia |
|
1972 |
Don't Say You're
Mine |
Columbia |
|
1972 |
If This Is Goodbye |
Columbia |
|
1975 |
The Way I Lose My
Mind |
Hickory |
|
1977 |
This Lady Loving Me |
ABC |
|
1988 |
Old Lonesome Times |
Rounder |
 Laurie
Joulie Take Country Back February 2002 |
Carl
