Carl Smith

Carl Smith 

(Singer, Songwriter, Guitar, Bass)

• Date of Birth: March 15, 1927
• Place of Birth: Maynardsville, Tennessee
• Married: 1. June Carter (div), 2. Goldie Hill (m. 1957)
• Children: 1. Rebecca Carlene (Carlene Carter), 2. Lorri Lynn, Carl, Jr., Larry Dean

Carl Smith, who was to become known as the Country Gentleman, was exposed to Country music at an early age, and bought his first guitar with money made from selling flower seeds, then cut grass to pay for lessons. While still in high school, in 1944, he had his first radio experience at WROL in Knoxville. After graduation, he enlisted in the Navy and during his 18 months in the service, served four tours in the Philippines. Leaving the service in 1946, he returned to WROL and for a while played guitar in the Brewster Brothers Band.

In 1947, Carl and banjo player Hoke Jenkins moved to Asheville, North Carolina and appeared for free on WWNC, keeping afloat financially by playing local live bookings. After a move to WGAC in Augusta, Georgia, financial considerations forced his return to Knoxville, where he was eventually hired as Archie Campbell’s bass player (and occasional singer) on his WROL shows, Country Playhouse and The Dinner Bell. While with Archie, Carl recorded a demo which led to an audition for Jack Stapp of the Grand Ole Opry. Carl first appeared on the Opry in March 1950, as a guest of Hank Williams. He signed with Columbia Records and became a member of the Opry, and the next year released his first chart hit in what was to become a string of hits. He was befriended by Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb, touring with Tubb and receiving assistance from him in finding material to record.

In 1952, he recorded some Gospel material, supported by Mother Maybelle and the Carter Sisters and three months later married June Carter. By 1956 Carl decided to leave the Opry to have more time for additional Saturday night bookings and movie work, appearing in two movies. In 1957, he started an eighteen-month association with the Philip Morris Country Music Show which toured the U.S. By this time he and June had divorced and he married Goldie Hill, a lady who could have been one of the major female stars of Country music.

In 1961, he became one of the hosts on ABC-TV’s Four Star Jubilee and in 1964 was invited by the Canadian Television Network to host the first three episode of the Country music series. This proved so popular that it went on to run weekly for five years as Carl Smith’s Country Music Hall, leading to Carl’s being voted the No. 1 Country star in Canada.

In the 23 years Carl was with Columbia, he sold about 15 million records and when he retired in 1977, he was one of the most successful Country singers around.

Recordings include:

• Let’s Live a Little
• Let Old Mother Nature Have Her Way
• Wait a Little Longer, Please, Jesus
• There She Goes
• You Can’t Hurt Me Anymore
• Why, Why
• Ten Thousand Dreams
• Take My Ring Off Your Finger
• Faded Love and Winter Roses
• I Love You Because