Last time I mentioned CARL SMITH....What a great person. He would come in Acuff-Rose and go through songs looking for material to record. He is so down to earth, and a lot of fun to be around. Carl always had a way of puting you at ease, and you would fit right in the conversation, even if you didn't know anything about the subject.

I have always liked the way Carl Smith "stayed" country. He would always pick songs that fit his style and his voice. I remember an album he recorded with Curley Chalker playing steel and also Johnny Siebert playing steel. It was a great combination. Wesley Rose used to send me out to Carl Smith's Ranch to take some papers to be signed or just to take something out there.

It was always fun to go see him and of course Goldie Hill, his wife, they made you feel right at home. We'd sit and talk a little while....maybe have some tea or coffee and then he'd say,"Come on, lets go out to the barn". Well, the barn was huge. Carl raised horses and trained them, so his barn was heated and of course cooled. He was involved in a lot of different Rodeo's, not only showing horses, but riding in the Rodeo's also. Speaking of Goldie Hill, she was a great singing artist also.

I remember when I was in radio, I use to play a song she recorded called "SAY BIG BOY". I think it was on Epic Records. I would get a lot of requests for it. I saw her and Carl at a ROPE Banquet. We rode down the elevator and had a chance to visit a little. Neither one has changed a lick sincethe first time I met them, and Goldie has just gotten more beautiful...CARL,
YOU'RE A LUCKY COWBOY...!!!!

Written By: Don Powell dptpowel@bellsouth.net
Used By permission of the Country Western Corner