Sammi Smith

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 3 Jul 2004 10:06 am

Does anyone know what ever happened to one of my favorite female singers, Sammi Smith? She was such a terrific singer. A very distinct voice and would make my hair (?) stand up. In fact both of my hairs would stand up. I have an album or 2 by her. I was just listening to her sing The Heart of a Clown. WOW..her own style. I was just wondering what ever became of her. Thanks
Gere

Jim Saunders · Post by **Jim Saunders** » 3 Jul 2004 10:17 am

Gere, I have the album you mentioned. It has Hal Rugg on steel. Great music, but, to answer your question, I don't know what's happened to her.

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Emmons Legrande II, D10, Gibson Console Grande D8, Peavey Session 2000, Peavey Nashville 112.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 3 Jul 2004 2:24 pm

She had definitely a great voice, Hal and Weldon can be heard on most of her records, but I don't know either what happened to her after her great time in the 70's.

Kind Regards, Walter
www.austriansteelguitar.at.tf

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David Wright · Post by **David Wright** » 3 Jul 2004 4:00 pm

How many knew she was the X wife of Bob White...

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 3 Jul 2004 4:32 pm

Back in about '84 or so, when I was studying C6 with Buddy at Jeff's place, he invited us students to come along to a recording session he was doing with Sammi Smith and we got to hear her do her thing (and him do his!) I think it may have been a Step One Records production. I might have a photo of that session around somewhere, if I rummage enough through my desk...

James Morehead · Post by **James Morehead** » 3 Jul 2004 8:43 pm

Hi Gere, Our band leader was her rythme guitar player toward the end of her run. He knows her story very well. E-mail me privately if you want, and I'll put you in touch.

Larry King · Post by **Larry King** » 4 Jul 2004 12:12 am

Sammi will be in Sarcoxie, Mo Sat nite July 17th at the High School football stadium. If the weather does not co-operate we'll move in to the gym. It is a fund raiser for Chief Sarcoxie Days, second weekend of Sept. Would love to have you join us.

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 4 Jul 2004 2:42 am

Dunno if Curly ever recorded anything with her or not, but he told me back around 76 or 77 that he loved to pick with her and went on to speak of her talent as a vocalist.

My second night in Nashville, Dec 1972, I wound up at an impromptu jam session at her house with her lead guitar player at the time, Al Bruno and several other friends. I decided right then and there that I wasn't going to be able to cut it in Nashville as a Guitar player after hearing Al. I didn't decide until 3 years ago to take up guitar again after almost 40 years of being a bass player.
I really appreciate the lesson Al Bruno taught me that night and he probably didn't realize he was doing it. It was gentle and I'm grateful, that I learned it right there and wasn't embarrassed later on in public. There were some nice guys in Nashville back then and Al Bruno was at the top of the list.
John[This message was edited by John Floyd on 04 July 2004 at 03:56 AM.]

Gere Mullican · Post by **Gere Mullican** » 4 Jul 2004 6:47 am

And she is also the x wife of Darryl McCall. I sure wish whe was still recording.\
Gere

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 6 Jul 2004 8:35 am

Hey John,
I remember when Al B. left LA to go to work with Sammi in Nashville. I don't think you're the only one back there who was scared by him. Al was a little guy but was head and shoulders above the vast majority of pickers in Nashville or anywhere else for that matter. I don't think he ever got into the click because he was too much competition for most of those guys. I'm glad he came back to LA 'cause he was appreciated there. He's been a friend of mine since the 60's and there's never been a nicer guy in music than him. I think Sammi Smith should have been honored to have the great Al Bruno playing for her. He's still active by the way, and living in Las Vegas now...........JH

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

[This message was edited by Jerry Hayes on 06 July 2004 at 09:37 AM.]

Smiley Roberts · Post by **Smiley Roberts** » 6 Jul 2004 8:59 am

She was,also,married to one of Willie Nelson's pickers too. Jody Payne.

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©¿© It don't mean a thang,
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Roger Shackelton · Post by **Roger Shackelton** » 6 Jul 2004 6:05 pm

This could turn into another topic. "Who All Has Been Married To Sammi Smith?"

Roger

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 6 Jul 2004 7:38 pm

We can do this faster like this: Has anyone here not been married to Sammi Smith at one time or another?

[This message was edited by Jim Cohen on 06 July 2004 at 08:39 PM.]

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 6 Jul 2004 11:48 pm

Maybe Smiley wasn't, Ain't really sure.

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 7 Jul 2004 3:29 am

The Sammi Smith/Curly Chalker connection jogged my memory on something Jeff Newman said one time. He said that Curly was backing Sammi at one of the local spots in Nashville. It came time for the turnaround and Curly outdid himself, a little bit too good. Sammi was so mesmerized by his playing, she just stood there and forgot to sing when he finished. Now that is touching somebody with your playing!

B. P. Johnson · Post by **B. P. Johnson** » 7 Jul 2004 6:35 am

^[This message was edited by B. P. Johnson on 06 November 2005 at 05:51 PM.]

jlsmith48 · Post by **jlsmith48** » 7 Jul 2004 9:30 am

Last I heard was that she lived on a farm near Slick OK. SW of Tulsa.[This message was edited by jlsmith48 on 07 July 2004 at 10:33 AM.]

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 7 Jul 2004 3:51 pm

Waylon is a local singer here and I heard on the radio the other day he could be the next big one coming down the pike. He used to sit in with us in 97-98 on Lower Broadway.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 8 Jul 2004 12:53 am

Can I marry her next?

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 8 Jul 2004 2:43 am

Get in line, Buddy!

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 8 Jul 2004 3:46 am

She's too dang old for me, I'm only 64...JH

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 9 Jul 2004 2:00 am

OK Jim, we need to settle this like men. The one with the worst breath, wins.

Come to daddy, Sammi.

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400

Sonny Priddy · Post by **Sonny Priddy** » 26 Jul 2004 7:06 pm

Sammie was A Great Singer I Loved That Song She Did Called WHEN MICKEL CALLS. I THINK THAT WAS 1970. SONNY.

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Ken Lang · Post by **Ken Lang** » 28 Jul 2004 6:40 pm

Jerry: I too worked with Al over the years, at various clubs in So CAl. Just the nicest guy. He never failed to ask how my son was doing with his music, tho he'd seen him only once or twice. He always remembered my wife's name. I worked with him while he was going thru some tough times with Bernice, but he always had a smile for us.

The wife and I are going to Vegas the week of Oct 18th. It would be great to link up with Al during that time. Have you any contact info or where he might be playing?

Thanks. Ken