Traditional country guitarist/vocalist and recording artist L.C. Smith & His Wizards could be seen at Al Herman’s Musical Bar in the mid-’50s. In 1955 Smith began appearing with his Tennessee Fox Hunters featuring “Tennessee Shorty and Little Tommy,” Chuck, and Bobby at Lou’s Belmont Musical Bar on West Baltimore Street, and Slim Brow’s Cafe on Conkling Street. Smith’s groups the Wizards, and the Country Musiclicks performed at Carl’s Club “33”.
Smith also fronted bands the Tyler County Boys, Southern Mountain Boys (with Harold Lowry [guitar, vocals], Ben [bass], Rich Parr [drums]), the Southern Playboys, and the Smith Brothers who also featured guitarist Harold Lowry and could be seen at Carl’s, Satyr House, and at Stanley’s on Monument Street. In the late ‘60s-‘70s his Smith Brothers band included Sonny Godsey (switching from bass to lead guitar, replacing Lowry), Frank Stone aka ‘Stoney’ (steel guitar), Ben Smith (bass ex-Frantics), and Wayne (drums). The band’s female singer was Brenda Kay, L.C.’s daughter. Among other venues L.C.’s band played as house band at Stanley’s.
Smith and his groups also did live Sunday shows on WBMD.
Ben Smith left in early 1970 and formed the band Stone Country.
Brenda later led her own band (see Mod Country).
L.C. Smith’s single releases include:
1953 Kingsport 108 Radio Boogie / I’d Hate to Lose Her
1958 Wagon 1003 Rolling Stone / Hideaway Love (As L.C. Smith & the Southern Mountain Boys)
196* Wango 104 Honeymoon on A Rocketship / Radio Boogie (As L.C. Smith & the Southern Playboys)
1963 Wango 101 I’d Hate to Lose Her / I’m Old Kentucky Bound
1964 Wango 106 Sundown and Sorrow / Lonesome Road Blues
1971 Wango 202 Let the Big Times Roll / 20 Steps
196* Wedge 1020 I Just Got Lonesome / Corrine, Corrina
L.C. Smith & His Daughters (Brenda Lee and Phyllis):
196* Wedge 1026 Twenty Steps / My Heart’s Too Small
L.C. Smith & the Country Allstars:
1980 Velvet 101 She’s Colder Than She’s Hot / Won’t You Ride in My Little Red Wagon
Note: Brenda and Phyllis also provided backing vocals on “Rolling Stone” / “Hideaway Love.”
