View source for Smokey Joe Baugh

{{Short description|American singer and pianist}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name                = Smokey Joe Baugh
| image               =
| caption             =
| image_size          =
| birth_name          = Joseph Edward Baugh Jr.
| alias               = Smokey Joe
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1932|7|25}}
| birth_place         = [[Helena, Arkansas]], United States
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|1999|11|19|1932|7|25}}
| death_place         = [[Monterey, California]], U.S.
| genre               = [[Rockabilly]]
| occupation          = Singer, pianist
| instrument          =
| years_active        = 1946&ndash;1970s
| label               = [[Sun Records|Sun]]
| past_member_of     = [[Snearly Ranch Boys]]<br>[[Bill Black's Combo]]
| website             =
| Notable instruments =
}}
'''Joseph Edward Baugh Jr.''' (July 25, 1932 &ndash; November 19, 1999), known as '''Smokey Joe Baugh''' or simply '''Smokey Joe''', was an American [[rockabilly]] and [[country music|country]] singer and pianist.
==Biography==
Baugh was born in [[Helena, Arkansas]], and by the age of 14 had begun playing piano semi-professionally around [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]. Around 1952, he joined the Shelby Follin Band, where he met guitarist [[Paul Burlison]]. With Burlison, he accompanied [[Howlin' Wolf]] on radio performances on station KWEM in [[West Memphis, Arkansas|West Memphis]]. He then joined the [[Snearly Ranch Boys]], led by Clyde Leoppard, performing and touring with them, and recorded the single "Split Personality", released on the Flip label, an offshoot of [[Sun Records]], in early 1955, and credited to Bill Taylor (the band's trumpeter) and Smokey Jo {{sic}}.<ref name=allmusic>[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/smokey-joe-baugh-mn0000032352  Biography by Bruce Eder, ''Allmusic.com'']. Retrieved 22 January 2019</ref>
[[Sam Phillips]] recognized that Baugh's distinctive raspy voice could appeal to black audiences, though Baugh himself was white. He signed to Sun Records, and later in 1955 recorded "The Signifying Monkey", a song written by Bill Taylor and [[Stan Kesler]] based on [[Signifying monkey|traditional African American folklore]]. The record became successful around Memphis, and Baugh, who was assumed by the promoters to be black, was invited to perform at the [[Apollo Theatre]] in [[Harlem]]. The song formed the basis of [[Chuck Berry]]'s "[[Jo Jo Gunne (song)|Jo Jo Gunne]]". Baugh's original recording, featuring a prototype [[ska]] rhythm of the type popularized by [[Millie Small]]'s "[[My Boy Lollipop]]", was reissued in 1964, and the song was recorded about the same time by [[Sam the Sham]]. Baugh's recording has subsequently been issued on various [[rockabilly]] compilations.<ref name=rockabilly>[http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/smokey_joe_baugh.htm  "Smokey Joe Baugh", ''BlackCatRockabilly'']. Retrieved 21 January 2019</ref>
Although Baugh made further recordings for Sun, including "Hula Bop" featuring [[Ukulele|Hawaiian guitar]] as well as Baugh's piano, most were not issued at the time, perhaps because Baugh and Phillips had a poor relationship. However, Baugh did record as a [[session musician]] on records by [[Warren Smith (singer)|Warren Smith]], [[Barbara Pittman]], [[Carl Perkins]], and others. He was also present at the "[[Million Dollar Quartet]]" recording in December 1956, with Perkins, [[Elvis Presley]], [[Johnny Cash]], and [[Jerry Lee Lewis]]. During the early 1960s, he was a member of [[Bill Black's Combo]].  Baugh's career was limited by financial problems and a dependence on alcohol and other drugs. He moved to [[Waco, Texas]], and in 1970, formed a [[country music|country]] band, the Midnite Cowboys, with guitarist Buddy Holobaugh.<ref name=allmusic/><ref name=rockabilly/>
Baugh died in [[Monterey, California]], in 1999.<ref name=rockabilly/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baugh, Smokey Joe}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Sun Records artists]]
[[Category:American rockabilly musicians]]