Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cutups
Band · Active 1962–present · Roanoke, Virginia
Traditional Bluegrass
Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cut-Ups was the traditional bluegrass band that guitarist/lead vocalist Red Smiley led after his fourteen-year partnership with Don Reno ended in 1964. Where the Reno & Smiley-era Tennessee Cut-Ups leaned into Reno's progressive banjo innovations, Smiley's Bluegrass Cut-Ups returned to a more straight-ahead traditional sound, captured on five albums for Rural Rhythm and one for Rimrock.
- Formed in 1964 after Reno and Smiley dissolved their partnership. Smiley (1925–1972) had been struggling with health issues that made the touring Reno & Smiley schedule impossible.
- Core lineup featured Smiley (guitar, lead vocals), Clarence “Tater” Tate (fiddle), Billy Edwards (banjo), Gene Burrows/Burris (mandolin), and John Palmer (bass). Some lineups included John Hall on banjo and other sidemen.
- Held a regular gig on WDBJ-TV Roanoke's Top O' the Morning show — one of the longest-running bluegrass television programs of the era.
- First album, a Rimrock (Wayne Raney's label) release, was one of the first LPs ever pressed on Rimrock's new equipment.
- Four Rural Rhythm albums produced by Lee Sutton for Uncle Jim O'Neal, recorded in Canton, Ohio: Volumes 1, 2, 3 (1969), and a final LP. Compiled decades later on The Best of Red Smiley & the Bluegrass Cut-Ups: Essential Original Masters.
- Material drew from the Reno & Smiley catalog alongside traditional bluegrass and country: “Dirty Dishes,” “Dear Old Dixie,” “Take This Hammer,” “Darlin' Corey,” “Salt Creek,” “900 Miles,” “Roll On Buddy.”
- Also worked WWVA's Wheeling Jamboree during this period; Uncle Jim O'Neal met Tater Tate there.
- Smiley's signature D-run on guitar (played out of D position, in contrast to the Flatt G-run) is considered one of the most distinctive backup-guitar phrases in bluegrass history.
- Smiley retired in 1968 when the Top O' the Morning show was cancelled. Recorded 10 country-electric sides for Major Records that year (“Best Female Actress of the Year” got airplay).
- The Bluegrass Cut-Ups band continued without Smiley as the Shenandoah Cut-Ups.
- Smiley came out of retirement in 1969 to join Don Reno and Bill Harrell (see separate entry) as a three-way partnership until his death from heart failure on January 2, 1972, at age 46.
- Inducted into the IBMA Hall of Honor alongside Don Reno in 1992 as part of the Reno & Smiley induction.
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The Old Gospel ShipRed Smiley and the Bluegrass Cutups Vol. 3 (1968)
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Billy EdwardsPlayed on recordings with Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cutups
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Clarence "Tater" TatePlayed on recordings with Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cutups
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Gene BurrowsPlayed on recordings with Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cutups
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John PalmerPlayed on recordings with Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cutups
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Arthur Lee "Red" SmileyPlayed on recording with Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cutups