Margo Smith
Encyclopedia
Margo Smith is an American Country Music Singer
. In the 1970s, she was a popular female Country vocalist, acquiring two No. 1 hits on the Country charts during that time, "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You
" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While
", both Country music remakes of previous Pop music standards. She is also considered a "world class yodeler".
However, in the late '70s, after releasing 1979's A Woman album, Smith's image underwent a metamorphosis, wearing much riskier clothing, and recording much riskier material, like 1979's Top 10 Country hit, "Still a Woman".
-native Margo Smith was already a popular Country singer when she emerged with a new sexy
image in the late 70s. This new kind of image made Margo Smith more of a star than she already was.
Margo Smith was born Betty Lou Miller in 1942 in Dayton, Ohio
. Smith had been singing since childhood, but decided to pursue a career in Kindergarten teaching
instead, graduating from Wittenberg University
. Since childhood, Margo Smith learned how to yodel. She soon found work as a Kindergarten teacher, but always aspired to make it big in Nashville
. During this period, Smith would write songs that she would use frequently in her lesson plans
during the day at school. She soon began singing at PTA
meetings, and began singing her songs on the radio
. She developed a following wherever she went. She soon cut a demo
for various record companies. One record company noticed Smith's voice (20th Century Records
) and liked what they heard. They soon signed Smith to their label in 1975. She soon began recording for the label in Nashville, Tennessee
.
was the song "There I Said It". The song was released as a single in 1975, and debuted on her first album, simply entitled Margo Smith. "There I Said It" became a Top Ten Country hit for Smith that year, and tuned Smith into a Country success overnight. Her follow-up single to her big hit was the song "Paper Lovin'". Although not as successful as "There I Said It", it still made the Country Top 30, giving her a minor hit that year. In 1976, Smith had to switch record companies, as 20th Century Records
shut down its division in Nashville, Tennessee
. She soon moved over to Warner Bros. Records
that same year.
She soon began cutting recordings for Warner Bros. and worked with producer Norro Wilson
. She had more success under her new record company with hits like "Save Your Kisses for Me
" and "Take My Breath Away", which were both Top 10 hits in 1976, proving that Smith could continue to have hits, even if she switched record companies. In 1977 she had a Top 15 hit with "Love's Explosion". By now Margo Smith was a Country music success story, making a name for herself in Country Music
. She kept her image as the girl next door
and a good Christian
girl. In 1978, she had her biggest success when two of her singles went to #1, first starting with "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You
" (a #1 Pop hit for Connie Francis
in 1962) and then followed by "It Only Hurts For a Little While" (originally by the Ames Brothers
in 1956). These two songs were her only chart toppers. She had another hit in 1978, that reached the Top 5 called "Little Things Mean a Lot
", which previously had been #1 Pop hit by Kitty Kallen
in 1954.
, who had been around since the 1960s, also changed her image to a more sexy image. In 1979, Smith released a new album called A Woman. She soon released singles from the album, starting with "Still a Woman" in 1979. Although the song seemed very risky to record, it ended up being a hit that year, making the Country Top 10.
That year, she had another Top 10 hit from the same album called "If I Give My Heart to You
", which was again another risky song (and another remake of an oldie, previously a hit for Doris Day
in 1954). Her songs and albums mainly focused on the popular Country Pop
or Countrypolitan style. This kind of Country Music sounded more Pop than Country, and most of the artists coming out of Nashville at the time recorded this kind of Country. Her stage show got more a more flashy as time progressed. She soon began wearing Spandex
and satin
outfits. Because of this, Smith's fanclub grew larger. She also married producer Richard Cammeron of Camerron Records in 1982, a record company which Smith later recorded for. Into 1980 her career was in its peak, with hits like "Baby My Baby", "The Shuffle Song" and "My Guy
" (a hit for Mary Wells
in the 60s). She toured heavily with her band "Night Flight", opening for Country artists, like Charley Pride
, Kenny Rogers
, and Tammy Wynette
.
in 1981. In 1982, she moved to AMI Records, but with minor charting singles. She continued to label jumping through much of the early 80s, having a charting single in 1984 with "Please Tell Him I Said Hello". In 1985, she released an album entitled The Best of the Tennessee Yodeler, which paid a tribute to one of Smith's favorite singers, Bonnie Lou
. The album was sold on television
. Her last hit on the national charts came in 1988 was with the hit "Echo Me" on Playback Records.
She switched over to her Cammeron Records. She also briefly acted on the TNN
show I-40 Paradise. She and her daughter, Holly became a Christian Music
group, named "Margo Smith and Holly", and they recorded for Homeland Records. She and her daughter were popular Christian singers throughout much of the 1980s. They even had some Christian hits. Her daughter, now married, Holly Watson
continues her career as a TV spokeswoman and actress. She recorded on and off for labels in the 1990s. Most recently, Smith contributed her vocals to the CD, The Littlest Star: A Musical Story, which is also a picture book
. In 2005, she released a new album, her first in many years called Nothing to Lose, produced by Dave Moody
and released by Lamon Records
.
Today, Smith sometimes makes appearances at the Grand Ole Opry
, and also does appearances at Dollywood
(founded by Dolly Parton
). She also continues to tour. Margo Smith is also a professional yodeler. One of her students, Taylor Ware
, was the runner-up on the NBC
show America's Got Talent
in August 2006. Today, she is still married to Richard Cammeron, and they live in Brentwood, Tennessee
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In the 1970s, she was a popular female Country vocalist, acquiring two No. 1 hits on the Country charts during that time, "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You
Don't Break the Heart That Loves You
"Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" is an American song written by Benny Davis and Ted Murry. The song would become a success for two artists in two different genres: Connie Francis in the pop field in 1962, and Margo Smith as a country version in 1978....
" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While
It Only Hurts for a Little While
"It Only Hurts for a Little While" is a 1956 popular song with music by Fred Spielman and lyrics by Mack David.The recording by The Ames Brothers was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-6481. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 19, 1956...
", both Country music remakes of previous Pop music standards. She is also considered a "world class yodeler".
However, in the late '70s, after releasing 1979's A Woman album, Smith's image underwent a metamorphosis, wearing much riskier clothing, and recording much riskier material, like 1979's Top 10 Country hit, "Still a Woman".
Early life & rise to fame
OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
-native Margo Smith was already a popular Country singer when she emerged with a new sexy
Physical attractiveness
Physical attractiveness refers to a person's physical traits which are perceived to be aesthetically pleasing or beautiful. The term often implies sexual attractiveness or desirability, but can also be distinct from the two; for example, humans may regard the young as attractive for various...
image in the late 70s. This new kind of image made Margo Smith more of a star than she already was.
Margo Smith was born Betty Lou Miller in 1942 in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. Smith had been singing since childhood, but decided to pursue a career in Kindergarten teaching
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
instead, graduating from Wittenberg University
Wittenberg University
Wittenberg University is a private four-year liberal arts college in Springfield, Ohio serving 2,000 full-time students representing 37 states and approximately 30 foreign countries...
. Since childhood, Margo Smith learned how to yodel. She soon found work as a Kindergarten teacher, but always aspired to make it big in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. During this period, Smith would write songs that she would use frequently in her lesson plans
Lesson
A lesson is a structured period of time where learning is intended to occur. It involves one or more students being taught by a teacher or instructor...
during the day at school. She soon began singing at PTA
Parent-Teacher Association
In the U.S. a parent-teacher association or Parent-Teacher-Student Association is a formal organization composed of parents, teachers and staff that is intended to facilitate parental participation in a public or private school. Most public and private K-8 schools in the U.S. have a PTA, a...
meetings, and began singing her songs on the radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. She developed a following wherever she went. She soon cut a demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
for various record companies. One record company noticed Smith's voice (20th Century Records
20th Century Records
20th Century Fox Records, also known as 20th Fox Records and 20th Century Records, was a subsidiary of film studio 20th Century Fox.-History:It began in 1958 as 20th Fox Records. In 1963, 20th Fox Records became 20th Century-Fox Records...
) and liked what they heard. They soon signed Smith to their label in 1975. She soon began recording for the label in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
.
Early music success: Good girl image
One of her first recordings under 20th Century Records20th Century Records
20th Century Fox Records, also known as 20th Fox Records and 20th Century Records, was a subsidiary of film studio 20th Century Fox.-History:It began in 1958 as 20th Fox Records. In 1963, 20th Fox Records became 20th Century-Fox Records...
was the song "There I Said It". The song was released as a single in 1975, and debuted on her first album, simply entitled Margo Smith. "There I Said It" became a Top Ten Country hit for Smith that year, and tuned Smith into a Country success overnight. Her follow-up single to her big hit was the song "Paper Lovin'". Although not as successful as "There I Said It", it still made the Country Top 30, giving her a minor hit that year. In 1976, Smith had to switch record companies, as 20th Century Records
20th Century Records
20th Century Fox Records, also known as 20th Fox Records and 20th Century Records, was a subsidiary of film studio 20th Century Fox.-History:It began in 1958 as 20th Fox Records. In 1963, 20th Fox Records became 20th Century-Fox Records...
shut down its division in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. She soon moved over to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
that same year.
She soon began cutting recordings for Warner Bros. and worked with producer Norro Wilson
Norro Wilson
Norris "Norro" Wilson is an American country music singer, songwriter and producer, and member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame....
. She had more success under her new record company with hits like "Save Your Kisses for Me
Save Your Kisses For Me
"Save Your Kisses for Me" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed for the United Kingdom by Brotherhood of Man in The Hague, Netherlands. The lyrics and music were written by Tony Hiller, Lee Sheriden, and Martin Lee, the latter two being members of the band...
" and "Take My Breath Away", which were both Top 10 hits in 1976, proving that Smith could continue to have hits, even if she switched record companies. In 1977 she had a Top 15 hit with "Love's Explosion". By now Margo Smith was a Country music success story, making a name for herself in Country Music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. She kept her image as the girl next door
Girl next door
The cultural and sexual stereotype of the girl next door or the All-American girl is invoked in American contexts to indicate wholesome, unassuming femininity, as opposed to the culture's other female stereotypes such as the tomboy, the valley girl, the femme fatale, girly girl, or the slut. The...
and a good Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
girl. In 1978, she had her biggest success when two of her singles went to #1, first starting with "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You
Don't Break the Heart That Loves You
"Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" is an American song written by Benny Davis and Ted Murry. The song would become a success for two artists in two different genres: Connie Francis in the pop field in 1962, and Margo Smith as a country version in 1978....
" (a #1 Pop hit for Connie Francis
Connie Francis
Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...
in 1962) and then followed by "It Only Hurts For a Little While" (originally by the Ames Brothers
Ames Brothers
The Ames Brothers were a singing quartet from Malden, Massachusetts, who were particularly famous in the 1950s for their traditional pop music hits.-Biography:The Ames Brothers got their beginning in Malden, where all four were born...
in 1956). These two songs were her only chart toppers. She had another hit in 1978, that reached the Top 5 called "Little Things Mean a Lot
Little Things Mean a Lot
"Little Things Mean a Lot" is a popular song written by Edith Lindeman and Carl Stutz , published in 1953. Lindeman was the leisure editor of the Richmond Times-Despatch and Stutz a disc jockey from Richmond, Virginia....
", which previously had been #1 Pop hit by Kitty Kallen
Kitty Kallen
Kitty Kallen is an American popular singer who sang with a number of big bands in the 1940s, coming back in the 1950s to score her biggest hit, "Little Things Mean a Lot" in 1954.-Career:...
in 1954.
Later music success: Risque image
The year 1979 was a great change for Smith. This was the year Smith turned her image completely around and emerged into the Country spotlight with a new image. However, she wasn't the only female Country singer doing this. The legendary Country singer Dottie WestDottie West
Dottie West was an American country music singer and songwriter. Along with her friends and co-recording artists Patsy Cline and Loretta Lynn, she is considered one of the genre's most influential and groundbreaking female artists...
, who had been around since the 1960s, also changed her image to a more sexy image. In 1979, Smith released a new album called A Woman. She soon released singles from the album, starting with "Still a Woman" in 1979. Although the song seemed very risky to record, it ended up being a hit that year, making the Country Top 10.
That year, she had another Top 10 hit from the same album called "If I Give My Heart to You
If I Give My Heart to You
"If I Give My Heart to You" is a popular song written by Jimmy Brewster, Jimmie Crane, and Al Jacobs.The most popular versions of the song were recorded by Doris Day and Denise Lor; both charted in 1954. Anne Shelton recorded a version for the UK market, but it lost out to the Day version, as well...
", which was again another risky song (and another remake of an oldie, previously a hit for Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
in 1954). Her songs and albums mainly focused on the popular Country Pop
Country pop
Country pop, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock, is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s. Although the term first referred to country music songs and artists that crossed over to Top 40 radio, country pop acts are now more likely to cross over to...
or Countrypolitan style. This kind of Country Music sounded more Pop than Country, and most of the artists coming out of Nashville at the time recorded this kind of Country. Her stage show got more a more flashy as time progressed. She soon began wearing Spandex
Spandex
Spandex or elastane is a synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity. It is strong, but less durable than natural Latex, its major non-synthetic competitor. It is a polyurethane-polyurea copolymer that was co-invented in 1959 by chemists C. L. Sandquist and Joseph Shivers at DuPont's...
and satin
Satin
Satin is a weave that typically has a glossy surface and a dull back. It is a warp-dominated weaving technique that forms a minimum number of interlacings in a fabric. If a fabric is formed with a satin weave using filament fibres such as silk, nylon, or polyester, the corresponding fabric is...
outfits. Because of this, Smith's fanclub grew larger. She also married producer Richard Cammeron of Camerron Records in 1982, a record company which Smith later recorded for. Into 1980 her career was in its peak, with hits like "Baby My Baby", "The Shuffle Song" and "My Guy
My Guy
"My Guy" is a 1964 number-one hit single recorded by Mary Wells for the Motown label. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, the song is a woman's dedication to the goodness of her man .The single became the biggest hit ever for Wells, Motown's first female star, and reached the...
" (a hit for Mary Wells
Mary Wells
Mary Esther Wells was an American singer who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s...
in the 60s). She toured heavily with her band "Night Flight", opening for Country artists, like Charley Pride
Charley Pride
Charley Frank Pride is an American country music singer. His smooth baritone voice was featured on thirty-nine number-one hits on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His greatest success came in the early- to mid-1970s, when he became the best-selling performer for RCA Records since Elvis...
, Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
, and Tammy Wynette
Tammy Wynette
Virginia Wynette Pugh, known professionally as Tammy Wynette , was an American country music singer-songwriter and one of the genre's best-known artists and biggest-selling female vocalists....
.
Later career & life today
She had her last major hits in 1981, duetting with Rex Allen Jr., having a Top 20 hit with him that year called "Cup of Tea", along with a Top 30 hit called "While the Feeling's Good". Their duet "Cup of Tea" nominated the duo for Top Duet of the Year by the Academy of Country MusicAcademy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
in 1981. In 1982, she moved to AMI Records, but with minor charting singles. She continued to label jumping through much of the early 80s, having a charting single in 1984 with "Please Tell Him I Said Hello". In 1985, she released an album entitled The Best of the Tennessee Yodeler, which paid a tribute to one of Smith's favorite singers, Bonnie Lou
Bonnie Lou
Bonnie Lou is an American rock and roll and country music singer. During the mid-1950s, Bonnie Lou helped pave the way for future female artists as one of rock and roll's first female singers...
. The album was sold on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. Her last hit on the national charts came in 1988 was with the hit "Echo Me" on Playback Records.
She switched over to her Cammeron Records. She also briefly acted on the TNN
The Nashville Network
The Nashville Network, usually referred to as TNN, was an American country music-oriented cable television network. Programming included music videos, taped concerts, movies, syndicated programs, and numerous talk shows...
show I-40 Paradise. She and her daughter, Holly became a Christian Music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
group, named "Margo Smith and Holly", and they recorded for Homeland Records. She and her daughter were popular Christian singers throughout much of the 1980s. They even had some Christian hits. Her daughter, now married, Holly Watson
Holly Watson
Holly Watson is a TV spokeswoman, Gospel singer, TV host and actress from Franklin, Tennessee, originally hailing from Ohio. Mrs Watson graduated from Belmont University with a BS in Broadcasting...
continues her career as a TV spokeswoman and actress. She recorded on and off for labels in the 1990s. Most recently, Smith contributed her vocals to the CD, The Littlest Star: A Musical Story, which is also a picture book
Picture book
A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. The images in picture books use a range of media such as oil paints, acrylics, watercolor and pencil.Two of the earliest books with something like the format picture books still retain now...
. In 2005, she released a new album, her first in many years called Nothing to Lose, produced by Dave Moody
Dave Moody
Dave Moody is an artist, producer, songwriter and filmmaker from North Carolina. His instrumental proficiency has earned him two Grammy Award Nominations and three International CMA Awards as a member of The Moody Brothers...
and released by Lamon Records
Lamon Records
Lamon Records is an indie record label, originally established in North Carolina, now based in Nashville, Tennessee. Known primarily as an artist development label, Lamon Records Nashville usually concentrates its efforts in Americana, Bluegrass, Country, as well as all forms of Christian...
.
Today, Smith sometimes makes appearances at the Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
, and also does appearances at Dollywood
Dollywood
Dollywood is a theme park owned by entertainer Dolly Parton and the Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. It is located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Dollywood has 3,000 people on its payroll, making it the largest employer in that community....
(founded by Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
). She also continues to tour. Margo Smith is also a professional yodeler. One of her students, Taylor Ware
Taylor Ware
Taylor Marie Ware is an American singer and yodeler from Franklin, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville.Before Ware knew how to yodel, she performed at a county fair at age four. Her talent was singing and playing a violin. When she was six she decided to sing to seniors, so she started an...
, was the runner-up on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
show America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent
America's Got Talent is an American reality television series on the NBC television network, and part of the global British Got Talent franchise. It is a talent show that features singers, dancers, magicians, comedians, and other performers of all ages competing for the advertised top prize of...
in August 2006. Today, she is still married to Richard Cammeron, and they live in Brentwood, Tennessee
Brentwood, Tennessee
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 23,445 people, 7,693 households, and 6,808 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 7,889 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 94.63% European American, 1.89% African American,...
.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award Program | Award | Result |
| 1981 | Academy of Country Music Academy of Country Music The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the... |
Top Duet of the Year (with Rex Allen Jr.) for "Cup of Tea" | Nominated |
| 1981 | Music City News Country | Top Duet of the Year (with Rex Allen Jr.) for "Cup of Tea" | Nominated |
| 1994 | CCMA | Vocal Duo/Group of the Year (with her daughter Holly) | Won |