Smokey Joe Baugh

Smokey Joe Baugh -- who was sometimes credited simply as "Smokey Joe" -- was one of the more unusual and mysterious figures hovering around the mid-'50s music scene in Memphis. He was born in Helena, AR in 1932, and by age 14 had started playing piano at least semi-professionally in Memphis and West Memphis. He later became a member of the Shelby Follin Band, which brought him into contact with guitarist Paul Burlison -- and, in turn, Baugh would get some of his first wide local exposure of the radio, teamed up with Burlison playing with Chester "Howlin' Wolf" Burnett on West ...