Country music lost one of its best Saturday as honky tonker Carl Smith died in his Tennessee home at the age of 82.
Carl recorded 41 charting singles in the 1950s, including hits “Are You Teasing Me,” “Back Up Buddy,” and my favorite “Hey Joe!” Though hard to imagine now, Carl was quite the divisive and controversial figure in country music when he started out because he elected to have a drummer in his band. The extra percussion was considered offensive by traditionalists, but it helped drive his almost rock-a-billy sound that made him such a star.
Here’s a great video of Carl on the Grand Ol’ Opry in 1968 being introduced by Roy Acuff. Carl and long-time steel guitar sideman Johnny Sibert lay down a smoking version of “Hey Joe!”
In case that wasn’t old school enough for you, here’s a black and white dandy featuring what looks like a 13-year-old Carl and his stalwart companion Johnny Sibert bending notes on steel guitar:
Carl’s career slowed down a bit after his hey-day in the ’50s, but he did manage a few more hits in the 1960s like “Air Mail to Heaven,” “Take My Ring Off Your Finger,” “Deep Water” and “Foggy River.”
Here’s Carl leanin’ towards the billy side of rockabilly with “Go Boy Go!”
Not only was Carl a member of country royalty through his canon of great recordings and performances, he also married into it. Carl married June Carter, member of country music’s first family the Carter Family and later wife of Johnny Cash. The couple had a daughter Rebecca Smith, who later changed her name to Carlene Carter, and divorced in 1957. It wasn’t long before Smith met the true love of his life though, marrying country singer Goldie Hill later that same year. Carl and Goldie would remain together until her death in 2005.
Here’s Carl Smith and June Carter being hilarious on stage together and performing “Love, Oh Crazy Love:”
Carl also hosted a number of television shows including Five Star Jubilee and of course Carl Smith’s Country Music Hall. He was a great talent and will be missed by all fans of traditional country music, like myself.
Want to hear a little more? Go grab The Essential Carl Smith which features 20 Carl Smith classics from the early 1950s. It looks to be out of print, but you can still get it used through that amazon link or download it.
Want to hear a LOT more? Go right now and buy the beautiful Bear Family box set Satisfaction Guaranteed which includes every single song Carl recorded in the 1950’s. Not only does it include 143 songs, but you get all the bells and whistles that the wonderful folks over at Bear Family Records put into each and every one of their box sets including a 12″ x 12″ book that includes a biography and complete discography for the songs in the set, which have each been given the white glove remastering treatment. Yeah, I’m a Bear Family addict! I admit it!
Rest In Peace Carl.
If you’re like me and are planning to play tribute with a Carl Smith marathon, here are some audio only clips from youtube to help you out:
“BJ the DJ”
“Back Street Affair”
“Gettin’ Even”
“How Do You Talk to a Baby”
“I Don’t Care”
“I’m Tired”
“Kisses Don’t Lie”
“Love While You Can”
“Love, Love, Love”
“More and More”
“Slowly”
“So Used To Lovin’ You”
“Ten Thousand Drums”
“That Heart Belongs To Me”
“The Tall, Tall Gentleman”
“There Stands The Glass”
“Waterloo”
“Wondering”
