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Arthur Lee "Red" Smiley (May 17, 1925 – January 2, 1972) was an American bluegrass and country musician, best known for his guitar playing with Don Reno under the name Reno and Smiley.

Smiley was born in Asheville, North Carolina, United States. He began recording with Don Reno in 1952 and the two formed Reno & Smiley. The two's partnership lasted until 1964 with a mutual parting of ways. In the later 1960's he would again work with Reno along with Bill Harrel. Mandolinist David Grisman played with Smiley's band early in his career. While returning home from a tour of Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States, Smiley died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in January 1972 at the age of 46, due to complications with diabetes. He was buried at the DeHart Cemetery in the Jackson Line community of Bryson City, North Carolina.

Legacy

In 1992, he was posthumously inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor, now called the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame.

References

1. Jones, Loyal (2008). Country music humorists and comedians. University of Illinois Press pg. 307. ISBN 978-0-2520-3369-8.
2. Argento, Mike (February 22, 2019). "Bob Campbell turned his passion for guitars into a York County institution". York Daily Record. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
3. Wolff, Kurt (2000). Country Music: The Rough Guide. Rough Guides pg. 245. ISBN 978-1-8582-8534-4.
4. Berrier, Ralph (August 30, 2015). "Fincastle festival from 1960s lives online". The Roanoke Times. Retrieved September 8, 2021.

• 1925 births
• 1972 deaths
• Bluegrass musicians from North Carolina
• Deaths from diabetes in the United States
• King Records artists
• Musicians from Asheville, North Carolina
• 20th-century American singers
• Country musicians from North Carolina