RIP Russell Smith - The Amazing Rhythm Aces

[Chris Tweed]

Another sore loss. I always loved Russell's voice and his quirky songwriting.

https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/russ ... -has-died/

[Jeffrey Smith]

I loved their big hit, Third Rate Romance, right from the get-go... a lot because of that really clean and well-mixed-in guitar work.

Russell's writing didn't hurt it one bit, either. He'll be missed.

[Larry Dering]

I really liked this band and players. I miss the fresh style and taste of the lyrics and music. RIP, Russell Smith.

[chuck lemasters]

When Third Rate Romance was a hit, the Amazing Rhythm Aces were booked on Jamboree USA in Wheeling. As soon as they began their set, the audience poured out of the place like the fire alarm had gone off. They were slightly louder than the typical Jamboree act of the time. We quickly moved down front for a great show. If you are familiar with their hits only, listen to their albums, an eclectic mix of roots, R&B, country music. Rest in peace, Russell Smith...

[Lee Baucum]

I remember learning Third Rate Romance when it was a new song. The band I play in now still has it on the set list.

[Mike Brown]

Russell was a great singer/songwriter. None better.

[Godfrey Arthur]

Godspeed Russel.

I remember the song Third Rate Romance at a time when things were more grounded and sensible.

[Craig Stock]

RIP Russell, the Aces have always been a fave of mine, my favorite song is 'Say Goodbye to the King of the Cowboys', 'The end is not in Sight' and anything off 'Stacked Deck' and 'Too Stuffed to Jump'.

He had a unique voice and the band was very smooth.

[Jim Anderson]

I've always been a big fan of Russell Smith (and the Aces). Sometime around the mid 1980s I think (after the Aces) he played the Alaska State Fair. Put on a fabulous show with a tight band. I think his kid was in the band IIRC. It was an outdoor show and not very crowded. I don't think too many folks knew who he was. Got a chance to chat with him a little. Super nice guy. RIP Russell.

[Murray McDowall]

Our band played support act for The Aces in our hometown on two occasions.
Great singer, great band (The Amazing Rythm Aces), and great Guys.
RIP Russell Smith.

[Ivan Posa]

RIP Russell. Saw the ARA twice in NZ. They only played small venues and were magic. Russells song writing skills were superb.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Sad to hear this. I just might be the Aces biggest fan. I saw one of their first concerts here around 74 or so.

Got the hats, T-shirts, pins and prints.

I have all of their vinyl and most of the CD's including the LP's re-issued on CD.

Russell Smith had one of the greatest ranges anywhere, both in vocals and choice of music styles. He could sing anything from Give Me Flowers to Taj Majal and everything in between. That's one of the things that was so appealing about the Aces to me. Russell just sang and wrote good music free from discrimination due to style. Even novelty stuff like Run C&W.

I guess he's making good music together now with his Buds Burton and McDade. RIP Russell Smith.

[Morgan Scoggins]

One of the corniest pickup lines ever:
" I'll even tell you "I love You" if you want me to".
And this unforgettable gem:

"And he came back with the key and she said "Give it to me and I'll unlock the door".

What a great song and at a great time to be young and alive. When men were men and women were women!

[Craig Stock]

I'm smoking ribs today and making pickles, and having a Amazing Rhythym Aces listening session in Russell's honor today.

[Chris Tweed]

That's a good way to spend a day, Craig. I think I will run my own Russell Smith listening day.

[Michael Bate]

Russell and Buddy Emmons were two of my big musical influences, and once upon a time I had the good fortune to bring them together.
In 1977, I was a fledgling steel player and free-lance broadcaster, travelling through Tennessee, interviewing some of my favorite musicians for a radio show I hosted on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in Ottawa.
I met Buddy during a break in the action at a studio in Nashville. I’d heard he didn’t suffer fools, but it went pretty well. He listened patiently to my rookie questions and as things wrapped up, I asked him what music he was into at the time. “Oh, man, I love the Amazing Rhythm Aces,” he said. “The End is Not Sight. Great song!”
The next night, in Memphis, I went to Sam Phillips Sun Studio, where the Aces were recording their third album, Toucan Do It Too. The Aces’ press person said they would be pretty busy and sure enough, they were a little standoffish.
So I hauled out my Sony cassette recorder and played them Buddy’s rave review.
They were ecstatic. Byrd Burton, the Aces guitarist/producer, grabbed the recorder out of my hands and kissed it; Russell pulled out a spliff of Columbian and offered me a toke. It was a magical night.
RIP Russell.

[John Brabant]

Michael Bate. Do you still have a copy of that recorded interview with Buddy Emmons? Would love to give it a listen as I am sure a lot of people here would.

[Michael Bate]

John,
Unfortunately, that interview disappeared long ago.
It's been 43 years, but one thing I recall about our conversation was that when I asked Buddy to rate other steel players, he offered that Pete Drake was "the luckiest player in Nashville."
It seems that he wasn't all that impressed with Pete's playing, but he envied him for, among other things, scoring the Bob Dylan gig in the mid-sixties.

[Joe Krumel]

Great band,great chemistry.Icons.

[John Brabant]

Thanks Michael. Too bad about losing that interview. I have heard a few stories regarding Buddy and his thoughts on Pete Drake. I'll leave it at that...

[John Brabant]

Here's a write up about Russell in Rolling Stone:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/musi ... ry-858738/

[Craig Stock]

Thanks John! Great obit

[Mike Headrick]

Sometime in the late 90's I played a one nighter with a band in Alabama that opened the show for the Rhythm Aces. When our part was over I went out into the audience with my wife and listened to the rest of the show. Russel hadn't even completed the first sone when I turned to m wife and said "This is the real deal! This is what music is about". It just really hit me hard that country music was becoming (or had become) a manufactured bunch of Hooie. For me, Russel Smith will always be a mega-force in music history.

[Bob Carlucci]

Yeah that was a great band.. No egotistical posturing, muscle T shirts with stupid white hat bullcrap...

Amazing grace used to be her favorite song.. What a fabulous song thats exactly what country music is supposed to be,

they were in my opinion the first "alt country" band and one of the most successful.. Eclectic and diverse, and quite different than most "country music" artists of their time, yet still traditional in a classic country music context in some of their material.. Enough so, that you can hear it was part of who they were..

sadly, time marches on, and we keep losing the people that influenced our own musical journey... bob