Smokey Bill and the Swinging Hillbillies

Smokey and the Swinging Hillbilly's played bluegrass and country music at family reunions every year. This was my favorite family tradition besides the actual family reunion, of course.  Almost all of the band members have passed away: my grandpa (the fiddle player) passed away in 2002, my mother (the lead singer and rhythm guitar player)  passed away in 2006, my Uncle David (the bass player) passed away in 2013 and my Uncle Bob (the guitar player/singer) passed away in 2014.  I love bluegrass music.  I hope I can teach my children to love it as much as I do.  I hope I continue to play the guitar and sing.  I know that once you stop practicing an instrument or talent your talent goes away.  My grandpa always told me to never put down my clarinet.  I wish I would have listened to him.  He definately knew what he was talking about.  He was a very talented individual and he was the best musician I ever knew (besides my mother).

Old Settlers Mooresville Indiana

Smokey and the Swinging Hillbilly's played bluegrass and country music at Old Settlers in Mooresville Indiana for over 30 years http://mooresvillelib.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/TreasureTrove-Old_Settlers-July2009.pdf .  This was a regular event for them to play at among others.  Sometimes my grandpa had regular guest members of the band including Eddie Saxton and Gary Thompson.

This is a picture of my grandpa and my mother and my stepdad and two uncles. My grandpa started playing the fiddle when he was 3 years old. He had a family band called Smokey and the Swinging Hillbilly's. He started playing the fiddle professionally at the age of 15. He played with his family with his mom on the piano, his father on the fiddle and his brothers Charles, Dave and Bill also on the fiddles. On the weekends they played at the Foutain Square Dance Hall. When he was about 18 he joined the Ace Bailey's Utah Trailers. They played at the Indiana Roof, Marott Temple and fairs. In 1939 he started the Swinging Hillbilly's. They could be seen playing at the local fairs, on a radio show and at various other locations throughout Indiana. He was drafted into the Army in 1943. He came back and went back to the Utah Trailers. The Trailers moved to Arizona but he stayed here in Indiana with his family. Then in 1947, REMC sponsored the Swinging Hillibilliy's at the Indiana State Fair with group members Bob Wright (Carl's son), Dave Ramay, Tony Newman, David Wright (Carl's son) and Carl.  The group continued to play at various locations thoughout Indiana Including Old Settlers In Mooresville. My mother became lead singer when she was 16 years old. My stepdad Bruce joined the band in the early 1980's as the banjo player. My grandpa passed away in 2002. The band then took the name The Swinging Hillbilly's. They contined to play shows. My mother passed away in 2006. The original remaining members of the band are my stepdad Bruce and my two uncles Bob and David. I love bluegrass music and I hope to continue the tradition of my grandfather and mother. This blog will be about not only their history but about my own music as I try to share it and carry their traditon on.