Why Join? Join
Join
The Guide
Bluegrass Roulette
Tuner Metronome Chord Finder
Contact About
Don Reno, Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cutups

Don Reno, Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cutups

Band · Active 1952–1964 · Richmond, Virginia → Roanoke, Virginia

Don Reno, Red Smiley and the Tennessee Cut-Ups were one of the most acclaimed duo acts of the first generation of bluegrass — a long partnership between two virtuoso multi-instrumentalists whose beautifully blended duets, innovative banjo and guitar playing, and vast original songbook produced dozens of bluegrass standards still played today.

  • Don Reno (February 21, 1926 – October 16, 1984) on banjo, guitar, and tenor vocals, born in Spartanburg, South Carolina; Red Smiley (February 21, 1925 – January 2, 1972) on guitar and lead vocals, born in Marshall, North Carolina.
  • Reno had been offered a spot in Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1943 but enlisted in the Army instead; he joined Monroe in 1948 after Earl Scruggs left, serving as Scruggs's successor on banjo until 1949.
  • Reno and Smiley met in 1949 in Tommy Magness and the Tennessee Buddies on WDBJ radio in Roanoke; they found their voices blended beautifully and began harmonizing as a duet.
  • First recorded as Reno & Smiley and the Tennessee Cut-Ups in January 1952 for King Records in Cincinnati, cutting 16 tracks including "I'm Using My Bible for a Roadmap" — Reno wrote all sixteen songs.
  • The first incarnation of the band broke up in 1952; the two continued to record together before reuniting as a full-time touring band in 1955 with Mack Magaha on fiddle, John Palmer on bass, and Carlton Haney as manager.
  • Became stars of the Old Dominion Barn Dance on WRVA Richmond and, starting December 31, 1956, hosted the first early-morning country music television show, Top o' the Morning, airing weekdays in Roanoke.
  • Reno was one of the most innovative banjo players of his generation — the first to develop a recognizably different voice from Scruggs, incorporating single-string passages, jazzy chord runs, and guitar-influenced phrasing.
  • Also the first prominent flatpicking lead guitarist in bluegrass; his "Country Boy Rock and Roll" is considered the first bluegrass song to feature lead guitar as the main instrument.
  • Smiley's rich baritone and strong rhythm guitar (on a prewar Martin D-45) anchored the duo; the "Red Smiley D run" remains a widely imitated bluegrass guitar lick.
  • Reno wrote approximately 500 songs and instrumentals across his career, making him the most prolific composer in bluegrass history; standards include "I'm Using My Bible for a Roadmap," "I Know You're Married," "I'm Gone, Long Gone," and "Drifting with the Tide."
  • Don's son Ronnie Reno joined the band on mandolin in 1956 at age eight.
  • Split in November 1964 due to Smiley's declining health; Reno kept the Tennessee Cut-Ups name and later partnered with Bill Harrell (1966–1977). Smiley came out of semi-retirement and toured with Reno and Harrell from 1969 until his death in 1972.
  • Inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor: Reno and Smiley together in 1992; Reno separately into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame in 2020.
No instrumentals to show.

Share Playlist

Loading song...
Practice Session
Woodshed Mode
Lyrics & Chords ▶ Hide
All Instrument Tuner ×
Metronome ×
Chord Finder ×
My Playlists ×

Please log in to view your playlists.

Print Setlist

Print Lyrics/Chords

Spotify Playlist

The Spotify links for your selected songs have been copied to your clipboard.

Open Spotify, create a new playlist, and paste the links directly into it.