Arthur Guitar Boogie Smith

Arthur Guitar Boogie Smith

Source: Discogs

Born on 1 April 1921 in Clinton, South Carolina, Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith can be easy to confuse with the bluegrass musician, Fiddlin' Arthur Smith. This Arthur Smith was a dangerously gifted Christian who planted his feet in both boogie boogie and country western, also recording popular music (which Fiddlin' Arthur didn't). Boogie woogie was the southern equivalent of ragtime and an important genre at the roots of R&B and rock. Smith played cornet as a youth, forming a Dixieland combo with his brothers, Ralph and Sonny, which eventually shifted over to country music as Smith picked up other instruments like guitar. In 1938 when Smith was seventeen the Carolina Cracker-Jacks took a trip to Rock Hill to record four tracks at the Andrew Jackson Hotel. Praguefrank's dates those per September 26, 1938: 'I'm Going Back to Old Carolina' (Bluebird 8304), 'Old Santa Claus Is Leavin' Just Because' (Bluebird 8104), 'There Are No Disappointments in Heaven' (Bluebird 8376) and 'Your Soul Never Dies' (Bluebird 8376). Smith played mandolin and fiddle on those, accompanied by Sonny (guitar), Ralph (banjo) and Luke Tucker (bass). DAHR differs from Praguefrank's, placing that session on the 29th. Smith otherwise began his career in radio, hiring onto WSPA in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in 1941.

'There Are No Disappointments In Heaven'

Arthur Smith (lead vocal) and the Carolina Crackerjacks

Smith's third recording to issue

26 or 29 Sep 1938 in Rock Hill SC   Matrix BS-027652-1

Bluebird B-8376 / Montgomery Ward M-7736

Mandolin: Arthur Smith   Banjo: Ralph Smith ?

Guitar: Sonny Smith   Bass: Luke Tucker

Composition:

Doesn't seem to be Frederick Lehman's 1914 'There's No Disappointment In Heaven'

'Where the Soul of Man Never Dies'

Arthur Smith (lead vocal) and the Carolina Crackerjacks

26 or 29 Sep 1938 in Rock Hill SC   Matrix BS-027653-1

Bluebird B-8376 / Montgomery Ward M-7736

Mandolin: Arthur Smith   Banjo: Ralph Smith ?

Guitar: Sonny Smith   Bass: Luke Tucker

In 1943 Smith moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to work for WBT radio in its Briarhoppers band for the 'Carolina Barndance' program, likely with his Cracker-Jacks as well. He and his brothers joined the military per World War II, after which they returned to WBT radio where Smith hosted the 'Carolina Calling' program. Smith recorded his first version of his famous 'Guitar Boogie' (Super Disc 1004) circa September 1944 possibly in Washington DC. 45Worlds has that issued in September of 1945 credited to the Rambler Trio featuring Arthur Smith. He also appeared on the flip, 'Beaty Steel Blues', by Cecil Campbell's Tennessee Ramblers. Also recorded by the Ramblers on that date were 'Each Night at Nine' / 'Please Come Back to Me Daddy' (Super Disc 1005).

'Guitar Boogie'   1st version   Rambler Trio featuring Arthur Smith (guitar)

Sep 1944 in Washington DC   Matrix BS-027653-1   Superdisc 1004

Mandolin: Arthur Smith   Banjo: Ralph Smith ?

Guitar: Don Reno / Cecil Campbell   Bass: Roy Lear

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Boomerang'   Arthur Smith's Sensational Trio

Nov-Dec 1945 in Charlotte NC   MGM 7593 / Super Disc 1031

Guitar: Arthur Smith   Banjo: Don Reno   Bass: Roy Lear

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Fingers On Fire'   Arthur Smith's Sensational Trio

Nov-Dec 1945 in Charlotte NC   SuperDisc 1024

Guitar: Arthur Smith   Banjo: Don Reno   Bass: Roy Lear

Composition: Arthur Smith

Smith's 'Banjo Boogie' reached #9 on Billboard's Country chart in 1948 [Music VF]. That was followed in 1949 by 'Boomerang' and another version of 'Guitar Boogie' both reaching #8. In 1951 WBT radio became WBTV television, the year Smith released his first LP on 10": 'Fingers on Fire'. In 1955 Smith partnered with banjo player, Don Reno, to record 'Feudin' Banjos', which tune was later used in the 1972 film, 'Deliverance'. Praguefrank's sessionography traces Smith to as late as January of 1973, though Discogs has him leading or co-leading above twenty albums to 'Jumpin' Guitar' in 1985, several with the Cracker-Jacks.

'Mandolin Boogie'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

Sometime latter forties   Matrix 48-S-631   MGM 10791 in 1950

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Who Shot Willie'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

Sometime latter forties   Matrix 48-S-674   MGM 10991 in 1951

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Fence Jumper'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

Sometime latter forties   Matrix 48-S-697   MGM 11040 in 1951

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Banjo Boogie'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

June 1948 in Charlotte NC   MF-238   MGM 10229

Composition: Arthur Smith

'In Memory of Hank Williams'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

Jan 1953 at Radio WBT in Charlotte NC   MGM 11433

Guitar: Arthur Smith (electric) / Sonny Smith

Banjo: Dan Reno   Bass: Tommy Faile

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Three D Boogie'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

Circa July 1953 at Radio WBT in Charlotte NC   MGM 11558

Guitar: Arthur Smith (electric) / Sonny Smith

Banjo: Dan Reno   Bass: Tommy Faile

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Feudin' Banjos'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

Circa July 1953 at Radio WBT in Charlotte NC   MGM 11558

 Banjo: Arthur Smith / Dan Reno

Guitar: Sonny Smith   Bass: Tommy Faile

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Stamps'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

March 1957 at the Arthur Smith Recording Studios in Charlotte NC   MGM 12544

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Easy Rock'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

Aug 1957 at the Arthur Smith Recording Studios in Charlotte NC   MGM 12544

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Hard Boiled Boogie'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

7 April 1959 at the Bradley Film & Recording Studio in Nashville

Matrix 59-XY-484   MGM 12791

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Chicken Strut'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks   Television

Circa 1960   'Carolina Calling'

Composition: Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

'Guitar Hop'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

C Sep 1962 at the Arthur Smith Recording Studios in Charlotte NC

Matrix ST-5856   Starday 642

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Philadelphia Guitar'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

C Nov 1962 at the Arthur Smith Recording Studios in Charlotte NC

Matrix ST-5966   Starday 615

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Philadelphia Guitar'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

C Nov 1962 at the Arthur Smith Recording Studios in Charlotte NC

Matrix ST-5969   Starday 615

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Tie My Hunting Dog Down'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

C July 1963 at the Arthur Smith Recording Studios in Charlotte NC

Matrix ST-6472   Starday 652

Composition: Rolf Harris

'Back to His Hole He Went'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

C Nov 1963 at the Arthur Smith Recording Studios in Charlotte NC

Matrix ST-6735   Starday 656

Composition: Arthur Smith

'The Stuttering Song'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

C Nov 1963 at the Arthur Smith Recording Studios in Charlotte NC

Matrix ST-6737   Starday 656

Composition: Arthur Smith

'I Like 'Lasses'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

C Nov 1963 at the Arthur Smith Recording Studios in Charlotte NC

Matrix ST-6739   Starday 701

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Flat Top Hari Kari'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

C June 1964 at the Starday Sound Studio in Nashville

Matrix ST-7244   Starday 701

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Psychoanalysis'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

C Dec 1968 at the Starday Sound Studio in Nashville

Matrix ST-8978   Starday 861

Composition: Arthur Smith

'Georgia Camp Meeting'   Arthur Smith and His Cracker-Jacks

C Jan 1973 at the Arthur Smith Recording Studios in Charlotte

From the album 'Battling Banjos' on Monument Z 32259

See Apple / Discogs

Composition: Arthur Smith

Smith is otherwise best known as television host of 'The Arthur Smith Show' which ran for above thirty years from 1951 to 1982. He had also built a recording studio in Charlotte where he produced radio programs as well. Smith was yet active and could perform as well as ever when he died in Charlotte on April 3, 2014, two days after his 93rd birthday. He had copyrighted about 500 tunes by then.