Biography
Smokey Hogg operated as a rural blues performer amid a postwar climate fixated on R&B, yet he achieved solid success by landing two major R&B chart entries in 1948 and 1950 while amassing an extensive recorded output across numerous imprints such as Exclusive, Modern, Bullet, Macy's, Imperial, Mercury, Recorded in Hollywood, Specialty, Fidelity, Combo, Federal, and Showtime.
In the early 1930s, after absorbing the styles of Big Bill Broonzy and Peetie Wheatstraw, Hogg teamed with slide guitarist Black Ace for appearances at dances in the Greenville, Texas area. His initial session occurred for Decca in 1937, though the event proved singular and a full decade passed before further studio work. Once active again, Hogg maintained steady momentum, and the two chart successes—"Long Tall Mama" from 1948 and "Little School Girl" from 1950—both appeared on Modern even as his raw, unpolished approach remained largely consistent irrespective of the various Los Angeles–based companies involved. His final recordings took place in 1958 for Lee Rupe's Ebb label. Smokey's cousin John Hogg pursued a parallel blues path and entered the studio for Mercury in 1951.
In the early 1930s, after absorbing the styles of Big Bill Broonzy and Peetie Wheatstraw, Hogg teamed with slide guitarist Black Ace for appearances at dances in the Greenville, Texas area. His initial session occurred for Decca in 1937, though the event proved singular and a full decade passed before further studio work. Once active again, Hogg maintained steady momentum, and the two chart successes—"Long Tall Mama" from 1948 and "Little School Girl" from 1950—both appeared on Modern even as his raw, unpolished approach remained largely consistent irrespective of the various Los Angeles–based companies involved. His final recordings took place in 1958 for Lee Rupe's Ebb label. Smokey's cousin John Hogg pursued a parallel blues path and entered the studio for Mercury in 1951.
Albums