RIP Carl Smith
Before the morning races on, I wanted quickly to draw attention to this obituary in The New York Times, noting the passing of Carl Smith, at 82.
He was, of course, the father of Carlene Carter, whose troubles would make songs enough for a boxed set, and whose gifts would make that set worth listening to. And he was the first husband to June Carter, which is how he came to be Carlene’s father.
He was on the country charts from 1951’s “Let’s Live A Little” (#2) through 1972’s “Don’t Say You’re Mine (#34), all of those hits on Columbia, the same label Johnny Cash recorded for. His #1s included “Let Mother Nature Have Her Way,” “(When You Feel Like You’re In Love) Don’t Just Stand There,” “Are You Teasing Me,” “Hey Joe!” and “Loose Talk.”
He retired, as the obit says, to raise horses. He was also, by every rumor I heard living in Nashville, a very nice man.