WARREN SMITH-BLACK JACK DAVID Video

WARREN SMITH-BLACK JACK DAVID Video



THIS SHORTENED BIOGRAPHY IS TAKEN FROM WIKIPEDIA. READ THE ENTIRE BIOGRAPHY THERE: August 1956, Smith went back to the Sun Records studio to record his second release "Ubangi Stomp". This infectious rocker had an incorrect lyric including an African chief with the syntax of a movie Indian. For the B side, Smith recorded the classic ballad "Black Jack David". This song, which originated in early eighteenth century Britain and survived in various forms, in the mountains of the American south, may be the oldest song ever recorded by a rock & roll performer. Although a resounding artistic success, this record did not sell as well as Smith's debut. In 1957, Smith recorded "So Long, I´m Gone", a song written by Roy Orbison, and it did become Smith´s biggest hit at SUN, peaking at No.74 nationally (Billboard). But SUN had no cash to put behind it to make it a bigger hit at the same time as Sam Phillips put every dollar SUN had behind Jerry Lee Lewis´ "Whole Lotta Shakin´ Goin´ On". Although Smith continued to make great rockabilly records for Sun, including a rocking cover version of Slim Harpo's "Got Love If Your Want It" (recorded in October 1957), these records did not do well commercially. Toward the end of 1958, Smith, seeing his future in country music, cut a final record for Sun, a cover version of Don Gibson's "Sweet Sweet Girl". In spite of a review in Billboard magazine calling it "ultra commercial" (high praise from a music business publication), this record also failed to sell. Smith decided to leave Sun Records. In 1959, Smith and his wife and son moved from Mississippi to California, settling in Sherman Oaks, not far from Johnny and Vivian Cash. Cash offered Smith a spot on his show, but Smith turned it down, seeing himself as a headliner, not a supporting player. In early 1960, Smith signed with Liberty records, and immediately scored a hit with "I Don't Believe I'll Fall in Love Today", which went to #5 on Billboard's Country & Western chart. This record, and Smith's subsequent records, was produced by Joe Allison, and featured one of California's best country session musicians, Ralph Mooney, on pedal steel guitar. Smith scored again with his next record for Liberty, "Odds and Ends, Bits and Pieces", written by Harlan Howard. Liberty had Smith record several more tracks, mostly cover versions of recent country hits, to flesh out an album called "The First Country Collection of Warren Smith". Smith continued to record with some success for Liberty, and to tour with his band, from 1960 - 1965. On August 17, 1965, Smith, had a serious car accident in LaGrange, Texas, suffering serious back injuries, from which it took him nearly a year to recover. By this time, his contract with Liberty had lapsed. Smith made several attempts to restart his career, first with a small, virtually amateur label called Skill records, then for Mercury Records, but, sadly, difficulties with addictions to pills and alcohol held him back. Eventually, Smith's drug problems led to an 18-month term in an Alabama prison for robbing a pharmacy. After his release from prison, Smith continued to struggle to restart his career. In the late 1970s, he got a bit of a boost from the rockabilly revival then occurring. He was invited, in 1977, to appear at London's Rainbow Theatre, on a bill featuring Charlie Feathers, Buddy Knox and Jack Scott. To his shock, Smith was received in London with standing ovations. His reception in England boosted his spirits and, upon his return to the U.S., he began to perform with newfound vigor. In November 1978, Smith and fellow Sun alumnus Ray Smith toured Europe, again to great success. In 1980, while preparing for another European tour, Smith died of a heart attack at 47 years of age. Warren Smith's contribution to the rockabilly music has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.