Bobby Smith & The Boys From Shiloh

Born in Cookeville, Tennessee in 1936, Bobby Smith grew up listening to the music of Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs. It wasn’t long before he picked up a guitar and began pickin’ and singin’ at the age of ten. Smith worked for many years as a sideman and eventually as lead vocalist for Bill Monroe’s band.

In 1969 he made his first recordings with his own group The Boys From Shiloh, formed with his brother Dallas Smith. Having cut their teeth for several years with a handful of LPs and performances around the country, Bobby Smith & The Boys from Shiloh came to CMH with their 1976 collaboration with dobro player and guitarist Josh Graves called Sweet Sunny South. This LP was followed up in 1978 with the likeminded collaboration Smokin’ Bluegrass. Both albums present a classic roots-oriented vision of bluegrass that wasn’t shy to take influence from the rock and outlaw country of their time. The result is a fresh take on bluegrass that is firmly rooted in the music’s past.

The Boys From Shiloh recorded their last album together in 1985. Bobby Smith passed away in 1992 and his brother Dallas passed away in 2002. Josh Graves continued recording until 2005 and passed away in 2006. CMH is honored to provide a home for these two incredible records which leave traces of these artists’ musicianship and legacy.