Warren Smith

Warren Smith distinguished himself from the many rockabilly performers who later pursued country singing careers through the particular ease of his own transition. He secured a Sun Records contract, the highest endorsement available in that style, and recorded several standout tracks for the label, yet he also achieved a short but notable stretch on the country charts in the early 1960s once he joined Liberty Records. Born in Humphreys County, Mississippi, on February 7, 1932, Smith experienced his parents’ divorce at a young age and spent the bulk of his childhood living with grandparents in Louise, Mississippi. He developed a strong interest in music and, during United States Air Force service, taught himself guitar while away from the base in San Antonio, Texas. Following his discharge, he concentrated on building a music career and performed regularly in dancehalls and honky tonks across the South. A steady engagement at the Cotton Club in West Memphis, Arkansas, brought him to the attention of steel guitarist Stan Kessler, who performed there with the Snearly Ranch Boys. Impressed by Smith’s voice, Kessler set up an audition with Sun Records owner Sam Phillips. Phillips shared Kessler’s high opinion of the singer, and on February 5, 1956, Smith recorded his debut single, “Rock & Roll Ruby” b/w “I’d Rather Be Safe Than Sorry.” Although the B-side stayed within straight country territory, the A-side delivered a spirited rock number supplied by Johnny Cash, who said he had purchased it from George Jones for only $40.00. “Rock & Roll Ruby” became a strong regional success, after which Smith issued further well-regarded numbers such as “Ubangi Stomp,” “Red Cadillac and a Black Moustache,” “Uranium Rock,” and “So Long, I’m Gone.” Written by Roy Orbison, the last of these reached number 74 on the Billboard singles chart and proved Smith’s strongest-selling Sun release. Despite the consistent quality of his Sun recordings, his full-bodied voice and country-inflected delivery did not suit the teenage-idol image, leaving Phillips uncertain about promotion. When the Sun contract expired in 1959, Smith relocated to California. Although Johnny Cash invited him to join his touring revue, Smith chose independence and signed with Liberty Records in 1960. His first Liberty single, the solid honky-tonk track “I Don’t Believe I’ll Fall in Love Today,” quickly climbed to number five on Billboard’s country chart; the follow-up, “Odds and Ends (Bits and Pieces),” also entered the country Top Ten. Smith later recorded two duet singles with Shirley Collie, who would subsequently tour and record with Willie Nelson before marrying him in 1963. While he managed a few additional modest hits, no further major country successes followed. Extended time on the road contributed to harmful patterns involving alcohol and amphetamines. In 1965 a serious automobile accident in LaGrange, Texas, caused severe back injuries that kept him offstage for nearly a year. By then Liberty had allowed his contract to lapse and declined to renew it because of his growing reputation for unreliability. He cut a handful of sides for the small Slick Records imprint and one single for Mercury, but none achieved commercial traction. Problems with drugs and drinking culminated in an arrest for robbing a pharmacy in Huntsville, Alabama. After serving 18 months in prison, Smith moved to Texas and largely abandoned professional ambitions, though he occasionally performed and once recorded an album for a rockabilly-focused label. In spring 1977 he was persuaded to appear in London, England, alongside fellow first-generation rockabillies Charlie Feathers, Jack Scott, and Buddy Knox. The concert proved highly successful and revealed an enthusiastic British following. Encouraged, Smith returned to England for additional shows later that year and increased his American bookings as well. While preparing for another British tour, he suffered a fatal heart attack on January 30, 1980.