Multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter born Micheal Wayne Smotherman in Erick, Oklahoma, who was a member of Buckwheat from 1969 to 1974. In 1974, he sang background vocals and played keyboards on Bluejeans & Moonbeams by Captain Beefheart. He also spent several years performing with Roger Miller.
In the 1970s and 1980s, he was an integral part of Glen Campbell’s band. He wrote “For Cryin’ Out Loud” and co-wrote “(I’m Getting) Used to the Crying” (with Roger Miller) and played keyboards on 1977’s Southern Nights. On 1978’s Basic, he wrote or co-wrote every track, as well as contributing background vocals and playing keyboards. He was only slightly less busy on 1979’s Highwayman, penning seven songs and supplying background vocals. For 1980’s Something ‘bout You Baby I Like, he composed “Show Me You Love Me”, a duet with Glen Campbell and Rita Coolidge. He wrote “I Don’t Want To Know Your Name” and “Nothing Quite Like Love” and played Wurlitzer piano on It’s the World Gone Crazy in 1981.
In 1982, he released a self-titled album and a double album entitled Interchords, and opened for Kasim Sulton (with Robert Palmer’s drummer, Dony Wynn) at The Bottom Line. On Micheal Smotherman, he was credited with keyboards and percussion, including bells, bottles and wheelbarrow!
He co-penned the title track of Ray Charles’ 1984 album, Do I Ever Cross Your Mind. Ray recorded it again on his last album with Bonnie Raitt.
In 1998, Micheal played B-3 organ on Lucinda Williams’ Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.
He unveiled another solo album in 2001, Conjure Man.
His compositions have been performed by a wide variety of artists and groups, including The Allman Brothers, Brooks & Dunn, Cher, Tom Jones, Roger Miller, Willie Nelson, The Pointer Sisters, Kenny Rogers, Shenandoah, Luther Vandross and Hank Williams, Jr.
Over ten of his songs have topped the Billboard country chart.
He died in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in November 2019 when he was 71 years old.
Glen Campbell recordings
I Don’t Want to Know Your Name (Micheal Smotherman)
Capitol Records- P-4959 (US Promo)
Southern Nights (Allen Toussaint)
Capitol 4376 S93475A
Sources:
- https://www.whineryfs.com/obituary/Micheal-Smotherman
- http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/BUCKWHEAT.htm
- http://losslessworld.blogspot.com/2011/06/captain-beefheart-bluejeans-moonbeams.html
- http://robbroyerpitchsheet.blogspot.com/2011/08/angel-mine.html
- http://burnwoodtonite.blogspot.com/2010/01/micheal-smotherman-lost-tracks-volume-3.html
- http://www.discogs.com/Micheal-Smotherman-Micheal-Smotherman-Interchords/release/3393235
- http://discog.fleetwoodmac.net/discog.php?pid=569
- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Glen-Campbell-Southern-Nights-1977-Capitol-SO-511601-Columbia-House-Ed-/161042428651
- http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/the-glen-campbell-album-by-album-thread.289814/page-10
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highwayman_%28Glen_Campbell_album%29
- http://www.earledisc.com/disc/Car_Wheels_On_A_Gravel_Road.htm
- http://supergroovydeliciousbite.blogspot.com/2013_06_01_archive.html
- http://www.discogs.com/Micheal-Smotherman-Conjure-Man/release/1019162