Person Record

Images

1 of 1977 Marvin (Smokey) Montgomery

View Image Metadata

Metadata

Name

Montgomery, Marvin

Othernames

Marvin Wetter, Junior and Smokey

Role

Banjoist

Spouse

1st wife: Catherine, 2nd wife: Barbara

Places of residence

Iowa/Texas

Titles & honors

Inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame in April 1989
American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame Class of 1998

Sphere Of Activity

Marvin "Smokey" Montgomery was born to music...and since he picked up a banjo at age 13 in Rinard, Iowa (pop. 160), he knew he had found his destiny in life. He and his banjo are legendary in Texas Western Swing music.

Today his fame is nationwide. Five generations of Americans have enjoyed his downhome music, his Dixieland Jazz, and lyrical ballads for more than 65 years.

In the spring of 1931, W. Lee "Please pass the biscuits, Pappy" O'Daniels, general manager of Burrus Mill & Elevator Company, organized the Light Crust Doughboys to advertise Light Crust Flour. Bob Wills was one of the original members. They were an immediate success, playing a daily 15-minute radio show while doing personal appearances all over Texas and the surrounding states. On October 22, 1935, Montgomery joined the Doughboys, inheriting the name "Junior." He has been a member of the Doughboys ever since, taking over leadership in 1948 at which time he traded "Junior" for "Smokey."

In the spring of 1936, the Doughboys went to Hollywood and Republic Pictures to appear in one of the first Western musicals with Gene Autry--"Oh, Susanna"--in which you can see and hear Montgomery play "Tiger Rag," among other songs, ride a horse and sing.

In April 1989, he was inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame in Austin, Texas, for introducing Dixieland banjo to Western Swing in 1935. October 1, 1989 he was inducted into The Western Swing Society Hall of Fame in Sacramento, California, and then on July 14, 1991, The Western Swing Society of Seattle, Washington, gave him the same honor.

For 14 years (1948-1962) Montgomery was musical director of the popular Big "D" Jamboree, a country western show held weekly at the Dallas Sportatorium. During this time, he continued leading the Doughboys as well as producing and playing on many recording sessions and transcriptions.