Cal Smith Dead at 81

Country singer Cal Smith, best known for his 1974 hit "Country Bumpkin", passed away yesterday at the age of 81.

Smith died in Branson and is survived by his wife, Darlene, five children and 15 great-grandchildren.

Smith was raised in the Oakland, California area and got his first big job playing for the legendary Ernest Tubb as part of his Texas Troubadours. Thus, you can hear Smith in much of Tubb's 1960s recordings.

He moved on to a solo career and released his first album in 1969 (Drinking Champagne).

Smith topped the country charts three times in his career: "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" (1973), "Country Bumpkin" (1974), "It's Time to Pay the Fiddler" (1975).

"Country Bumpkin" won the ACM and CMA Song of the Year award in 1974.