Passing of Carl Smith

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 17 Jan 2010 3:03 am

I got this from Marty Martel this morning, Carl Smith was born in 1927:

It is with the deepest sadness that I send this message out. After talking with one of my dearest friends about 1240AM today, I could not sleep with my heart heavy with the hurt of the loss of one of the greatest legends in country music, and a member of the Grand Ole Opry and Country Music Hall of Fame-Carl Smith has passed away.

I do not know any other information at this time and I am sure there will be no funeral arrangements until sometime today, but I could not let another minute pass without sending this out to all of you, because I felt you should know.

PLEASE KEEP CARL’S FAMILY IN YOU THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS IN THIS TIME OF DEEP SADNESS.

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN THE LOVING ARMS OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOR.

Marty

Kevin Mincke · Post by **Kevin Mincke** » 17 Jan 2010 4:08 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Smith ... _musician)

Dennis Graves · Post by **Dennis Graves** » 17 Jan 2010 6:50 am

I've always been a big fan of Carl Smith. I think my favorite song of his was "Little Girl In My Hometown".

Johnny Fason · Post by **Johnny Fason** » 17 Jan 2010 7:13 am

Kevin Mincke wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Smith ... _musician)

Leroy Riggs · Post by **Leroy Riggs** » 17 Jan 2010 8:37 am

This is truly sad. A fantastic singer who always maintained a good country sound. He always appreciated the steel guitar.

I heard him say in an interview a number of years ago with Ralph Emery that the steel was the one sound that had to be there to be called 'country'.
.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 17 Jan 2010 11:52 am

Another legend gone. He will not be forgotten for all the contributions he made to Country Music. My condolences to the family.

Kind Regards, Walter

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 17 Jan 2010 12:13 pm

What a great voice.

After hearing the Carl Smith 20th Anniversary Album w/ both Chalker & Big Jim Murphy, I immediately traded my S-10 Sho-Bud for a ZB D-10

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 17 Jan 2010 12:27 pm

I Love You Because...great music, great singer. Thanks for everything.

Michael Breid · Post by **Michael Breid** » 17 Jan 2010 6:47 pm

Carl was the first Op'ry person I ever worked with when I was eight years old. He used to let me go back in the studios at WSM when it was in the National Life building and let me collect autographs. He was a neat guy, and I'll miss him everytime I hear someone sing Hey Joe. RIP Mr. Carl.

Alvin Blaine · Post by **Alvin Blaine** » 17 Jan 2010 7:54 pm

Carl and Johnny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Rdulu6kOk

Kenny Foy · Post by **Kenny Foy** » 17 Jan 2010 9:34 pm

Sorry to hear about Carl's passing. Didn't I hear that Carl's wife, Goldie Hill, passed away just in the past little while? Just been watching her on Countrys Family Reunion on RFD TV.

Bill Myrick · Post by **Bill Myrick** » 18 Jan 2010 4:43 am

Kenny, The newspaper article Kevein posted above says she passed away in 2005.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 18 Jan 2010 5:41 am

It's always seemed odd to me that Carl Smith is rarely mentioned in the same breath with Webb, Faron, Dickens, Price,and others of that era. Maybe it is because he retired 30 years ago.

He's thought of as a traditional country singer but he could really get it done on uptempo western swing type songs too (Bonaparte's Retreat, Red Door, Deep Water)

That LP he did with the slow tempo version of "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" is a must have, as are all of his recordings with Curly Chalker and Jim Murphy.

http://www.lpdiscography.cz/s/Smith/smith.htm

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 18 Jan 2010 7:00 am

What can I add? One of the true greats of the kind of country music I love - in fact, a true linchpin of that entire genre. I have trouble imagining the history of country music without him. RIP, Carl.

Tommy Shown · Post by **Tommy Shown** » 18 Jan 2010 10:49 am

Mitch Drumm wrote:It's always seemed odd to me that Carl Smith is rarely mentioned in the same breath with Webb, Faron, Dickens, Price,and others of that era. Maybe it is because he retired 30 years ago.

He's thought of as a traditional country singer but he could really get it done on uptempo western swing type songs too (Bonaparte's Retreat, Red Door, Deep Water)

That LP he did with the slow tempo version of "Pick Me Up On Your Way Down" is a must have, as are all of his recordings with Curly Chalker and Jim Murphy.

http://www.lpdiscography.cz/s/Smith/smith.htm

I agree with you Mitch-MR>DJ, Would you please play; A REAL COUNTRY SONG??????????????????

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 18 Jan 2010 11:51 am

Carl started on the GOO while I was there. We both stayed at Ma Upchurch's when we were in town. I was into leather carving, and made Carl a hand-carved leather belt and Guitar strap. in spite of his fame, he was just a regular guy.

Another country music legend gone home.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 18 Jan 2010 12:59 pm

Younger people don't realize he was the hottest thing out there in the early 50's. Dynamic entertainer, great songs. The reason I wanted to get into music was to play the Carl Smith stuff. Had to have me a Fender just like Johnny Seibert's.
Sad to lose the guys that built this house!

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 19 Jan 2010 3:42 am

One of my favorite singers since I was a kid was Carl Smith! I was really offended the year he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame! For an artist of his stature I couldn't believe how he was presented that night! They just called his name and he stood up in the audience, can you believe that, they didn't even bring him on stage or anything. The CMA really sucked big time on that one.

I only saw him live once and it was around 1961 or '62 and I was in the US Army at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. Carl and his band played on the back of a flatbed truck at the grand opening of a mobile home dealership in Fayettville. Johnny Seibert was with him and also the guitar player who worked with Hank Williams who's name I can't remember.....JH in Va.

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 20 Jan 2010 3:24 am

Carl Smith was and still is a legend. When I was a kid I used to walk around the farm singing "I Feel Like Crying" and "You're Free To Go" so much that I think the animals even knew the words. Like Jerry Hayes, Carl was the first GOO member that I worked with. I was pretty new on steel then but his talent carried the show. What an honor that was to me.
RIP MR Smith.

Russ Wever · Post by **Russ Wever** » 20 Jan 2010 11:51 pm

Carl Smith with
Chalker & Sibert.

Click here

then here

then here

to hear.

~Russ

Shorty Smith · Post by **Shorty Smith** » 21 Jan 2010 5:15 pm

Carl Smith was my favorite singer in the 50's and I still sing some of his song and people love it. Are you teasing me, was my fovorite also There she goes. Carl had the perfect voice for good country music, A prayer for his family and my carl RIP, Shorty

Eddie Lane · Post by **Eddie Lane** » 22 Jan 2010 5:43 am

Russ,

Thanks for those clips. Great steel work....

I remember when Carl Smith retired from music. He was a great talent but was also considered to be a very good business man. He will go down in history as a true legend.

Drew Howard · Post by **Drew Howard** » 22 Jan 2010 5:58 am

Thanks, Russ!

Tom Harris · Post by **Tom Harris** » 22 Jan 2010 7:30 am

Man,,this is sad news,this Guy was great,When I hear the name "Carl Smith",,I think of two songs which are my favoriates,," Mr. Moon" and "Don't Just Stand There",these songs take me back to when Country Music was Country Music and times were a lot simpler.
R I P Carl,you may be gone,,,,,,,but certinaly not forgotten....and to his family,,May Our Hevenly Father richly bless you and bring you peace...

Tom Harris

Robin Archer · Post by **Robin Archer** » 22 Jan 2010 8:54 am

Another great gone.....Carl Smith was the first "country" album I bought. About 1956 I think.
Right after Marvin Rainwater's "Gonna Find Me A Bluebird" 45 (with a plastic red adapter in the center) RIP

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