D. C. "Smokey" Smith

D. C. "Smokey" Smith

Des Moines, IA

The country music industry lost a legendary member when D. C. "Smokey" Smith passed away at his home in Des Moines, IA on Monday, February 3, 2014, due to complications following two surgeries for a traumatic brain injury. The once popular local radio and television personality, entertainer, recording artist, promoter and owner of Smokey Smith Tours would have been 92 on February 12th.

He was born on February 12, 1922 in Kansas City, MO and raised in Lawrence, KS. It was there he learned at an early age, that singing and playing guitar created the perfect tempo for his life.

Smokey's career began in California, which spanned most of the 1940's as a recording artist and ballroom singer. It was there his reputation for constantly puffing on his favorite cigars earned him the lifelong and much preferred identity of "Smokey."

He later migrated to Des Moines in 1950, becoming a popular entertainer and broadcast personality on KRNT Radio. When KRNT-TV (now KCCI) began airing in 1955, he had the area's first live primetime country music television show. He later worked for local radio stations KWDM, KWKY and KNIA in Knoxville.

Smokey also promoted country music shows at KRNT Theater for 24 years. The early success of those events led him to include six other Iowa cities on his tours before expanding into six other states as well. This distinction earned him membership into an elite group of promoters known as "package show specialists" that controlled vast territory in their respective regions.

His tenacity proved to be the collateral earning him recognition as one of the premier promoters in the country. This wasn't the only reason he also became an icon in Nashville's entertainment community. Hiring every name act of the era would have probably qualified in itself, however, he also provided significant leadership in 1953 during creation of the Country Music Disc Jockeys Association.

By 1958, Smokey was serving as treasurer of the group and again displayed foresight in supporting a drive encouraging the membership to disband in favor of creating a much broader coalition known as the Country Music Association. He became one of the very first board members of the organization now recognized worldwide.

Smokey was a member of Nashville's Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame, the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received the. International Media Award presented by the Reunion of Professional Entertainers (ROPE) in Nashville.

A visitation with the family present will be held from 1 - 2 p.m. on Sunday, February 9, 2014 at Iles Funeral Home - Westover Chapel, located at 6337 Hickman Road in Des Moines. Funeral services will immediately follow the visitation.

Memorial contributions in Smokey's honor may be directed to R.O.P.E, International, P.O. Box 2048, Madison, TN 37116-2048.

Iles Funeral Homes - Westover, Dunn's Brandt, Grandview Park and Sundberg-Kirkpatrick Chapels (515) 276-4567.