Your Vinyl Destination
Warren Smith
Written by Robert Benson
Warren Smith had the ability to be a superstar. Certainly the Rockabilly star was one of the most talented singers to stand in front of a microphone at Sun Records. But commercial success eluded him, even though he was capable of singing the most heartfelt vocals and gut-wrenching country ballads. Let’s explore this pioneer of Rockabilly and Country Music singer’s legendary career.
Born in Humphreys County, Mississippi in 1931, he was raised by his grandparents after his parents divorced. Always interested in music, he took up the guitar while serving in the US Air Force while stationed in San Antonio. By the time he was discharged, he decided to try and make a career in the music industry. After moving to West Memphis, Arkansas, he successfully auditioned to play at a local hot spot called the Cotton Club. When steel guitarist Stan Kessler spotted this young, up and coming musician, he took him to Memphis’s famed Sun Records to audition for Sam Phillips.
Sam Phillips loved what he heard and decided to release Smith’s first record, “Rock & Roll Ruby,” a song credited to Johnny Cash (although Smith would later claim that the song was actually written by George Jones and was sold to Cash for $40). He recorded the record in February of 1956 with a country crooner song on the B side. By May 26th of that year, “Rock & Roll Ruby” would hit #1 on the local charts and went on to outsell the first Sun Records releases by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins.
But Smith’s second release with Sun Records, “Ubangi Stomp,” did not fare as well nor sell as well as his debut record. Interestingly, the B side of this record was a classic ballad called “Black Jack David,” which originated in the early eighteenth century Britain and may be the oldest song ever recorded by a rock and roll performer.
In 1957, Smith recorded a Roy Orbison tune called “So Long, I’m Gone” and it became Smith’s biggest seller at Sun Records; peaking at #74 on the Billboard Charts. But Sun Records did not financially back Smith; all of Sun’s money went into marketing another Sun recording artist, Jerry Lee Lewis. Smith continued to provide fantastic Rockabilly Music for Sun Records, including a rocking cover of Slim Harpo’s “I Got Love If You Want It” (recorded in October of 1957). However with no marketing and publicity behind it, his records did not do well commercially. Smith also cut a cover version of Don Gibson’s “Sweet Sweet Girl” (his last record with Sun Records) and in 1958, seeing that his future might be in Country Music; he decided to leave Sun Records.
In 1959, Smith moved his family from Mississippi to Sherman Oaks, California, not far from Johnny and Vivian Cash. Cash even offered Smith a spot on his show, but seeing himself as a headliner, not a backing musician, Smith turned down the invitation. In 1960, he signed on with Liberty Records and immediately scored a hit with “I Don’t Believe I’ll Fall In Love Today” (#5 on Billboard Country & Western Chart). He had another hit with Liberty Records called “Odds And Ends, Bits And Pieces” and Smith recorded several more tunes (mostly cover versions of the popular country hits at the time) and released an album called “The First Country Collection of Warren Smith.”
Smith continued to record with success for Liberty Records from 1960-1965, but in August of 1965 a serious automobile accident immobilized him for nearly a year. By the time he recovered from his injuries, his recording contract with Liberty Records had run out and Smith made several unsuccessful attempts to restart his career. Sadly, Smith’s own personal demons caught up with him as difficulties with addictions to alcohol and pills would hold him back. Smith’s drug problems led to an 18-month term in an Alabama prison, when he was convicted of robbing a pharmacy.
Smith continued to try and restart his music career after his release from prison. In the late 70’s he got a boost from the Rockabilly revival that was occurring at the time. In 1977, he was invited to appear at London’s Rainbow Theatre (also on the bill were Charlie Feathers, Buddy Knox and Jack Scott) and was very well received. This reception boosted his spirits and he returned to the US to perform with a new confidence. In November of 1978, he teamed up for another successful tour of Europe, this time with Ray Smith.
Sadly in 1980, Warren Smith died of a heart attack (age 47) while preparing for yet another European tour.
What would have happened to this legendary Rockabilly star had he had the proper marketing early in his career at Sun Records? We can only guess, but his contribution to Rockabilly Music has been recognized and adored by millions and he is enshrined in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. A true legend, he is missed, but his spirit of his music lives on.
Discography and vinyl prices:
Singles
Sun 239 - Rock 'n' Roll Ruby / I'd Rather Be Safe Than Sorry (April 1956)
A misprint on the label adds value to this 45rpm. If listed as “Rock ‘M’ Roll Ruby” it is listed at $100-125. If the label reads the correct title the record lists at $50-75
Sun 250 - Ubangi Stomp / Black Jack David (September 1956) listed at $50-75
Sun 268 - So Long I'm Gone / Miss Froggie (April 1957) lists at $50-75
Sun 286 - Got Love If You Want It / I Fell In Love (1957) listed at $60-80
Sun 314 - Goodbye Mr Love / Sweet Sweet Girl (1959) listed at $15-25
Warner Brothers 5125 - Dear Santa / The Meaning Of Xmas (1960) $10-20
Liberty 55248 - Cave In / I Don't Believe I'll Fall In Love Today (1960)
Liberty 55302 - Odds And Ends (Bits And Pieces) / A Whole Lot Of Nothin' (1961)
Liberty 55336 - Call Of The Wild / Old Lonesome Feeling (1961)
Liberty 55361 - Why Baby Why (with Shirley Collie) / Why I'm Walkin' (1961)
Liberty 55409 - Five Minutes Of The Latest Blues / Bad News Gets Around (1961)
Liberty 55475 - Book Of Broken Hearts / A Hundred And Sixty Lbs. Of Hurt (19614)
Liberty 55615 - That's Why I Sing In A Honky Tonk / Big City Ways (1963)
Liberty 55699 - Blue Smoke / Judge And Jury (1964)
All Liberty Records 45prm records listed at $8-12
Skill 007 - Future X / She Likes Attention (1966)
Mercury 78225 - When The Heartaches Get To Me / Lie To Me (1968) ($4-8)
Jubal 172 - Make It On Your Own / Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (1972)
Jubal 272 - I Don't Believe / Did You Tell Him (1972)
Jubal 473 - A Woman's Never As Gone / One More Time (1973)
Original albums:
The First Country Collection Of Warren Smith (1961) Liberty Records (3199)
monaural $35-40/stereo version (Liberty 7199)is worth $40-60
The Legendary Warren Smith (1977)
Memorial Album (10" LP, 1980, partial re-release of The Legendary Warren Smith)
Last Detail (recorded live in London, 1977, released 1981)
WARREN SMITH - ROCK 'N' ROLL RUBY SUN #239 78 RPM
WARREN SMITH / UBANGI STOMP
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