Humphreys County, Mississippi - d. 31 January 1980) was a pioneer rockabilly singer and guitar player.
Smith was born to Ioda and Willie Warren Smith, who divorced when he was young. He was raised by his maternal grandparents in Louise, Mississippi where they had a small farm and dry goods store.
Smith took up the guitar to while away his evenings while in the United States Air Force stationed in San Antonio, Tx. By the time of his discharge from the service, he had decided to make a career of music. He moved to West Memphis, Arkansas and auditioned, successfully, to play the Cotton Club, a local hot spot. Steel guitarist Stan Kessler, who was playing at that nightclub with the Snearly Ranch Boys, immediately spotted Smith's potential and took him to Memphis' famed Sun Records, to audition for Sam Phillips with the Snearly Ranch Boys providing backup.
Phillips liked what he heard, and decided that "Rock & Roll Ruby", a song credited to Johnny Cash, would be Smith's first record. (Smith later claimed that "Rock & Roll Ruby" was actually written by George Jones and sold to Cash for $40.) Smith recorded that rock & roll classic on February 5, 1956. Phillips, who was hedging his bets over whether rock & roll would maintain its popularity, released that record with a country crooner, aptly named "I'd Rather Be Safe Than Sorry", on the flip side. By May 26, "Rock & Roll Ruby" had hit number 1 on the local pop charts. Smith's first record for Sun went on to outsell the first Sun releases by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins.
In August 1956, Smith went back to the Sun Records studio to record his second release "Ubangi Stomp". This infectious rocker had a politically incorrect lyric including an African chief with the syntax of a movie Indian. For the B side, Smith recorded the classic ballad "Black Jack David". This song, which originated in early eighteenth century Britain and survived in various forms, in the mountains of the American south, may be the oldest song ever recorded by a rock & roll performer. Although a resounding artistic success, this record did not sell as well as Smith's debut.
Although Smith continued to make great rockabilly records for Sun, including a rocking cover version of Slim Harpo's "Got Love If Your Want It" (recorded in October 1957), these records did not do well commercially. Toward the end of 1958, Smith, seeing his future in country music, cut a final record for Sun, a cover version of Don Gibson's "Sweet Sweet Girl". In spite of a review in Billboard magazine calling it "ultra commercial" (high praise from a music business publication), this record also failed to sell. Smith decided to leave Sun Records.
In 1959, Smith and his wife and son moved from Mississippi to California, settling in Sherman Oaks, not far from Johnny and Vivian Cash. Cash offered Smith a spot on his show, but Smith turned it down, seeing himself as a headliner, not a supporting player. In early 1960, Smith signed with Liberty records, and immediately scored a hit with "I Don't Believe I'll Fall in Love Today", which went to #5 on Billboard's Country & Western chart. This record, and Smith's subsequent records, was produced by Joe Allison, and featured one of California's best country session musicians, Ralph Mooney, on pedal steel guitar. Smith scored again with his next record for Liberty, "Odds and Ends, Bits and Pieces", written by Harlan Howard. Liberty had Smith record several more tracks, mostly cover versions of recent country hits, to flesh out an album called "The First Country Collection of Warren Smith".
Smith continued to record with some success for Liberty, and to tour with his band, from 1960 - 1965. On August 17, 1965, Smith, had a serious car accident in LaGrange, Texas, suffering serious back injuries, from which it took him nearly a year to recover. By this time, his contract with Liberty had lapsed. Smith made several attempts to restart his career, first with a small, virtually amateur label called Skill records, then for Mercury Records, but, sadly, difficulties with addictions to pills and alcohol held him back. Eventually, Smith's drug problems led to an 18-month term in an Alabama prison for robbing a pharmacy.
After his release from prison, Smith continued to struggle to restart his career. In the late 1970s, he got a bit of a boost from the rockabilly revival then occurring. He was invited, in 1977, to appear at London's Rainbow Theatre, on a bill featuring Charlie Feathers, Buddy Knox and Jack Scott. To his shock, Smith was received in London with standing ovations. His reception in England boosted his spirits and, upon his return to the U.S., he began to perform with newfound vigor. In November 1978, Smith and fellow Sun alumnus Ray Smith toured Europe, again to great success.
In 1980, while preparing for another European tour, Smith died of a heart attack at 47 years of age.
Warren Smith's contribution to the rockabilly music has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Tee other Warren Smith :
The virtuoso percussionist, Warren Smith (b. 14 May 1934, Chicago, Illinois) has worked with diverse artists as Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Sam Rivers, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Van Morrison, Bill Cole and Harry Partch, and he was a founding member, along with Max Roach, of the percussion group, M'Boom.
Miss Froggie
Warren Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes, i got a gal, she's shaped just like a frog
I found her drinkin' muddy water sleepin' in a hollow log
Well she must have been her mama's only child
Yes, she must heve been her mama's only child
Well she ought've been a gorilla, man she sure is wild
(Soul ghitar)
Well it's Saturday night, i sure am feelin' blue
Yes, it's Saturday night, i sure am feelin' blue
Meet me in the bottom, bring me my blue suede shoes
Yeah, meet me in the bottom, bring my blue suede shoes
Yeah, meet me in the bottom, bring my blue suede shoes
We're gonna go out tonight, rock away all of our blues
(Soul ghitar)
Well i got a gal, shaped just like a frog
Yes, i got a gal, she's shaped just like a frog
I found her drinkin' muddy Water, sleepin' in a hollow log
Yeah, meet me in the bottom, bring my blue suede shoes
Yeah, meet me in the bottom, bring my blue suede shoes
We're gonna go out tonight, rock away all of our blues
At first listen, Warren Smith's "Miss Froggie" appears lighthearted and upbeat, but upon closer listening, the lyrics reveal a humorous yet somewhat degrading tone towards the subject of the song - a woman who the singer compares to a frog. He sings about finding her drinking muddy water and sleeping in a hollow log, painting her as a wild and uncivilized creature. The chorus repeats the comparison, with the singer insisting that his gal is shaped just like a frog. The second half of the song shifts focus to a more traditional blues theme, with the singer expressing his sadness and inviting the listener to join him in a night of drinking and dancing.
The lyrics of "Miss Froggie" are notable for their use of humor and symbolism. The comparison to a frog is both amusing and insulting, and serves to undermine the subject's femininity and humanity. The image of drinking muddy water and sleeping in a hollow log reinforces this idea of primitiveness and wildness, and again reduces the subject to an animalistic state. The shift to a more traditional blues theme in the second half of the song provides a contrast to the lighthearted opening, showcasing the multiplicity of emotions present in the blues genre.
Line by Line Meaning
Well i got a gal, shapped just like a frog
I have a girlfriend whose physical appearance resembles that of a frog.
Yes, i got a gal, she's shaped just like a frog
I indeed have a girlfriend who looks like a frog.
I found her drinkin' muddy water sleepin' in a hollow log
I discovered her drinking unclean water while sleeping inside a tree trunk.
Well she must have been her mama's only child
Assuming she was the only offspring of her mother.
Yes, she must heve been her mama's only child
It is very likely that she was the only child of her mother.
Well she ought've been a gorilla, man she sure is wild
She ought to have been a gorilla, because she exhibits animal-like behavior.
Well it's Saturday night, i sure am feelin' blue
It's Saturday night, but I am feeling sad.
Yes, it's Saturday night, i sure am feelin' blue
On this particular Saturday night, I feel rather depressed.
Meet me in the bottom, bring me my blue suede shoes
Come to the lower part of the town and bring my blue suede shoes.
Yeah, meet me in the bottom, bring my blue suede shoes
Once again, I urge you to join me in the lower area of the town, and bring my blue suede shoes.
We're gonna go out tonight, rock away all of our blues
Together, we will spend this evening dancing and singing, to banish our worries and blues.
Well i got a gal, shaped just like a frog
I have a girlfriend whose physical appearance resembles that of a frog.
Yes, i got a gal, she's shaped just like a frog
I indeed have a girlfriend who looks like a frog.
I found her drinkin' muddy Water, sleepin' in a hollow log
I discovered her drinking unclean water while sleeping inside a tree trunk.
Yeah, meet me in the bottom, bring my blue suede shoes
Join me in the lower part of the town and bring my blue suede shoes.
Yeah, meet me in the bottom, bring my blue suede shoes
Once again, I request that you come to the lower area of the town with my blue suede shoes.
We're gonna go out tonight, rock away all of our blues
We will spend tonight, dancing and singing with one another to get rid of our worries and blues.
Contributed by Christian A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Kaj Saarinen
Best of the Best!!
John Benn
WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a 73yo Aussie fan.