Joe Smothers

Overview

Joe Smothers was born in the Piedmont area of North Carolina in 1950. He grew up on barbecue, chili dogs, Brunswick stew and Elvis. Skinny belts and two tones were replaced in 1964 with Chelsea boots, Cuban heels and long hair thanks to the Beatles. Joe got his first guitar when his mom Betty purchased a Stella at the local pawn shop when he was thirteen. One morning Joe’s dad JM called him to the TV to see a blind guitar player on a local channel in Raleigh, North Carolina. The man’s name was Doc Watson. Little did either one of them know that years down the road Joe would have the honor of becoming a member of Doc and Merle Watson’s band Frosty Morn. Years of touring and more than a dozen albums with Doc, forged a relationship of deep respect. Joe has performed at every Merle Fest (26) and was also asked to be a performer at Doc’s funeral. Joe also toured extensively with Jack Lawrence. Their duo was Smothers and Lawrence. They recorded an album called Smothers and Lawrence. Joe chose to stop touring to help raise his son and daughter. He continued to to play in a favorite local band while working as a sales representative for an international casket company. With the children grown, Joe is again writing and touring in earnest. He recently completed his first CD called These Things I Know. One of the cuts is a song called The Three Buglers. It is a mix of fiction and historical facts on how Taps was written. Joe performed it at the Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas in 2007. He received first place recognition for this song. Joe’s voice is strong and pure. His guitar playing is solid. His mastery in song writing keeps your attention from beginning to end. Today Joe teaches guitar, and tours. He splits his time between homes in Valdosta, Georgia and Cortez, Florida with his wife Marghy.