The Smith Brothers

The Smith Brothers were active in both gospel and country music for over 25 years, and also appeared in a few Westerns during the '40s. John Onvia Smith and Aubrey Lee Smith were both born in the mountains of East Tennessee. They formed their first string band when they were children, and aspired to become country music performers. In 1938, they got a job at a Cincinnati radio station, where they met Milton "Ace" Richman. The three men teamed up and moved to Columbus, where they worked with Hank Newman's Georgia Crackers. In 1940, they went to Charleston, South Carolina and sa...