Reno and Smiley

Don Reno

 (Banjo, Guitar, Other String Instruments)

• Give Name: Donald Wesley Reno
• Date of Birth: February 21, 1926
• Place of Birth: Spartanburg, South Carolina
• Married: 1. Chloe (div.), 2. Betty
• Children: Ronnie, Jean, Donna, Dale, Don Wayne
• Date of Death: October 16, 1984                                                                                           

Red Smiley                                                                                                                                         

• Given Name: Arthur Lee Smiley, Jr.
• Date of Birth: May 17, 1925
• Place of Birth: Asheville, North Carolina                                                                                                Reno (l) and Smiley
• Married: Gladys
• Children: Kenneth (adopted)
• Date of Death: January 2, 1972

Don Reno and Red Smiley and their band, the Tennessee Cut-Ups, are usually ranked alongside Bill Monroe, Flatt & Scruggs, and the Stanley Brothers in their significance to Bluegrass music.

Although both were born in cities, they spent much of their childhood in rural areas in North Carolina. Don and Red first met in December 1949 at WDBJ Roanoke, where they had both been recruited for Tommy Magness’ band, the Tennessee Buddies. In 1951, they left the group and worked as a duet with Toby Stroud’s Blue Mountain Boys and later that year formed their own band in South Carolina--the Tennessee Cut-Ups. They played on radio programs in South Carolina but had difficulty obtaining show dates. In 1952, they went to Cincinnati and recorded 16 numbers for King, but due to continued rough times, the band broke up before the first record was released. Ironically, those recordings sold relatively well and the group was recalled periodically to cut more sides even though they were not actively performing together until 1955.

Don and Red got back together in the spring of 1955 and stayed together for nearly a decade. They became regulars on the Old Dominion Barn Dance at WRVA and had a popular morning TV show at WDBJ Roanoke. For seven years, they also did TV shows at WSVA Harrisonburg, Virginia. They remained with King through June, 1964, cutting enough material for about 20 albums, except for a year in 1957 when they recorded a dozen numbers for Dot.

The team dissolved in 1964, partly due to Red Smiley’s declining health (diabetes). Red remained in Roanoke with the TV show, retiring in 1968 when the station changed owners and the show was abruptly canceled.

Don Reno settled into a new partnership with Bill Harrell in December 1966. This partnership endured for a decade and produced numerous recordings on various labels.

Recordings include:

• Together Again (album)
• Don Reno & Red Smiley, 1951-1959 (album)
• Feudin’ Again (album)