Ray telling a story

It was 4 or 5 o'clock in the morning. We were betting on the first song Hank Williams ever sung on the Opry. I told Sam Phillip it was Lovesick Blues and Sam said, "Hell no, It was Mansion on the Hill." I said, "Bullshit!" Sam said "I'll bet you $100 and I said, "You're on." So Sam goes and phones Audrey Williams in Nashville. I said, "I'm gonna get on the other extension", because I knew Audrey and had backed her up. Sam said "Audrey, I'm sitting here with Ray Smith and we got $100 bet on the first song Hank ever sung on the Opry." She said "It was Lovesick Blues" and Sam said "Godamn it, Audrey, you just cost me $100 and he told Sally to go write out a cheque for $100.
 

Biography

Smith was born on October 31, 1938 in Melber, KY, where his father supported his family as a sharecropper and sheet metal worker. Smith was a self-taught musician who didn't begin performing in public until he joined the Air Force in 1952, after driving a Coca-Cola truck, operating an oven for a commercial baker, working in a shoe factory, and brewing moonshine with his brother-in-law. Smith was recruited to perform in a talent show while in basic training in Syracuse, NY; after winning first prize for his rendition of Hank Williams' "Lovesick Blues," Smith began teaching himself to play the piano, guitar, and harmonica.

Singles at the time of fame:                         

 - "Right Behind You Baby" 1958
 - "You Made A Hit" 1958
 -  "That's All Right" 1959
 - "Rockin' bandit" in 1959
 - "Rockin' Little Angel" in 1960
 - "Makes Me Feel Good" 1960
 - "I wont miss you (Till You Go) " 1961

Website
http://www.rockabillyhall.com/RaySmith.html

His original song Break Up, was later covered by Jerry Lee Lewis, who had opposed to ray some success with it. This man deserved a much bigger career