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.
Rock & Roll Ruby
Warren Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She took her high heels off and rolled her stockings down
She put a quarter in the jukebox to get a little beat
Everybody started watchin', all the rhythm in her feet
She's my rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
Rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
When Ruby starts a-rockin'
Now, Ruby started rockin' 'bout one o'clock
And when she started rockin'
She just couldn't stop, she rocked on the tables
And rolled on the floor, and everybody yelled
"Ruby, rock some more"
She's my rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
Rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
When Ruby starts a-rockin'
Boy, it satisfies my soul
It was 'round about four, I thought she would stop
She looked at me and then she looked at the clock
She said, "Wait a minute, Daddy
Now don't get sour, all I want to do
Is rock a little bit more"
She's my rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
Rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
When Ruby starts a-rockin'
Boy, it satisfies my soul
One night, my Ruby left me all alone
I tried to contact her on the telephone
I finally found her about twelve o'clock
She said, "Leave me alone, Daddy
'Cause your Ruby wants to rock"
She's my rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
Rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
When Ruby starts a-rockin'
Boy, it satisfies my soul
Rock, rock, rock and roll
Rock, rock, rock and roll
Rock, rock, rock and roll
Rock, rock, rock and roll
When Ruby starts a-rockin'
Boy, it satisfies my soul
The first verse of Rock and Roll Ruby introduces the main subject of the song, Ruby. The singer and Ruby are on the outskirts of town, and Ruby takes off her high heels and rolls down her stockings, indicating her intention to let loose and have a good time. She drops a quarter in the jukebox and begins dancing, quickly drawing attention to herself with her rhythmic moves. The song's chorus emphasizes the singer's admiration for Ruby's rock and roll skills.
The second verse further depicts Ruby's energetic and infectious dancing. She begins around one o'clock and can't stop moving, even jumping on tables and rolling on the floor. While some bystanders may have been initial skeptics, Ruby's enthusiasm quickly wins over the crowd. The third verse highlights Ruby's passion for rock and roll, even at the expense of sleeping or spending time with the singer. She tells him to leave her alone because all she wants to do is continue dancing.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I took my Ruby jukin' on the out-skirts of town
I brought Ruby to dance on the outskirts of town
She took her high heels off and rolled her stockings down
She removed her high heels and rolled down her stockings
She put a quarter in the jukebox to get a little beat
She put a quarter in the jukebox to listen to the music
Everybody started watchin', all the rhythm in her feet
Everyone stared at her because of her dancing skills
She's my rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
Ruby is a great dancer and loves to dance to rock and roll music
Now, Ruby started rockin' 'bout one o'clock
Ruby started dancing around 1 o'clock
And when she started rockin', she just couldn't stop
She continued dancing without stopping
She rocked on the tables and rolled on the floor
She danced on tables and the floor
And everybody yelled 'Ruby, rock some more'
Everyone encouraged her to dance even more
It was 'round about four, I thought she would stop
Around 4 o'clock, I thought she would stop dancing
She said, 'Wait a minute, Daddy; now don't get sour'
She asked me to be patient and not get angry
All I want to do is rock a little bit more'
She just wanted to keep dancing a little longer
One night, my Ruby left me all alone
One night, Ruby abandoned me
I tried to contact her on the telephone
I tried to call her
She said, 'Leave me alone, Daddy; 'cause your Ruby wants to rock'
She told me to leave her alone so she could dance
Rock, rock, rock and roll
This is a song about rock and roll music and dancing
When Ruby starts a-rockin', boy, it satisfies my soul
When Ruby dances to the rock and roll music, it brings me joy
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHNNY CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@koichiharuta5807
Well, I took my Ruby jukin' on the out-skirts of town
She took her high heels off and rolled her stockings down
She put a quarter in the jukebox to get a little beat
Everybody started watchin', all the rhythm in her feet
She's my rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
Rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
When Ruby starts a-rockin'
Boy, it satisfies my soul
Now, Ruby started rockin' 'bout one o'clock
And when she started rockin'
She just couldn't stop, she rocked on the tables
And rolled on the floor, and everybody yelled
"Ruby, rock some more"
She's my rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
Rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
When Ruby starts a-rockin'
Boy, it satisfies my soul
It was 'round about four, I thought she would stop
She looked at me and then she looked at the clock
She said, "Wait a minute, Daddy
Now don't get sour, all I want to do
Is rock a little bit more"
She's my rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
Rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
When Ruby starts a-rockin'
Boy, it satisfies my soul
One night, my Ruby left me all alone
I tried to contact her on the telephone
I finally found her about twelve o'clock
She said, "Leave me alone, Daddy
'Cause your Ruby wants to rock"
She's my rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
Rock and roll Ruby, rock and roll
When Ruby starts a-rockin'
Boy, it satisfies my soul
Rock, rock, rock and roll
Rock, rock, rock and roll
Rock, rock, rock and roll
Rock, rock, rock and roll
When Ruby starts a-rockin'
Boy, it satisfies my soul
@johnrichard6639
79 hears old still rocking BEST MUSIC EVER WRITTEN!
LONG LIVE THE OL'DAYS & THE OLDIES! ROCK ON!!
@josephsardena3525
This should have been a massive hit back in the 50's !
@davedvorak8728
I cant believe Elvis didn't sing this song!
@jackalister1662
@Dave Dvorak Johnny Cash did a version. It was really good. It’s on the movie with Reese Witherspoon and ,oh hell , the actor that played Johnny Cash, Jouquin Phoenix. Sorry,spelling ain’t right on the name so winging it , hoping spellcheck catches it. NOT!!!
@koko-pu5vn
I agree it's a great track but it's a little too raw and (proto) "punk" to sell as "pop." There track is on fire though, I'll give you that. And we're lucky to have it.
@webbtrekker534
I remember this from the 1950's being played on the radio. I guess I was about 11 years old. Released in 1956 it reached the #1 Pop chart slot in Memphis, how well around the country I couldn't tell you. Things didn't work then like it does now.
@MichaelSmith-jw8qw
incredible song--could still be played today
@martiallambert7382
why not,
@nicocacci4070
Warren is one of my heroes.
@davemorgan4143
One of the best songs that came out of Sun records.