SURRATT, CECIL WALKER (1926-2006)
SMITH, KING EDWARD IV “SMITTY” (1929-1981)
From 1959-1963 Cecil Surratt and Smitty Smith recorded for King Records in Cincinnati releasing two LPs on King and one on the King subsidiary Audio-Lab plus several singles. Some of their recordings were unusual in that they paired a five string banjo and a tenor banjo. Sacred type recordings on King were “The Last Mile of the Way”, “Never Grow Old”, “All Because of Calvary”, and “Read the Bible Every Day.” Future recording artist and Nashville producer Ray Pennington played drums on their recordings. Surratt and Smith both had individual careers outside of their shared recording career.
Cecil Surratt had worked in the mines and been a film editor at WHIS-TV in Bluefield, West Virginia where he also appeared on the station’s Country Jamboree and was host of the Uncle Ces Show for kids. He also recorded county, bluegrass, and gospel on local labels.
Smitty Smith had a very colorful life. His aunt Texas Gladden and uncle Hobart Smith were well known folk music personalities. Smitty supposedly appeared at the White Top Folk Festival as a child. A multi-instrumentalist, he appeared on WMEV Radio in Marion, Virginia, WHIS Radio and TV in Bluefield, West Virginia, and legendary WCYB Radio in Bristol where he rubbed elbows with Jam Up and Honey, Don Gibson, and Mac Wiseman. He worked as a deejay in Roanoke, Virginia where he became a very popular personality.