MIRA SMITH
Ram Records was the hub of rockabilly music in northern Louisiana and also seemed to be about half women, half men – much rarer in those days. Guitarist Mira Smith, with help from her cousin Alton Warwick started the Ram Recording Co. in Shreveport; and this was where Thomas Johnson – who became known as The Lonesome Drifter – and his band headed. Mira gave him a poem called “Tear Drop Valley” that was written by two of her friends, and Johnson set it to music and recorded it at a studio in a small radio station nearby. Mira later decided to start her own record company called K Records (named for her sister Kathleen Smith).
Thomas Johnson told Mira Smith that he didn’t want his own name on the record. She asked him what he did want, and he gave her the name The Lonesome Drifter, adapted from the name of Hank Williams’ band The Drifting Cowboys and also another name used by Williams, Luke the Drifter. So “Eager Boy” was released on the brand new label K Records, though it was actually the flip side “Tear Drop Valley” that finally won the Drifter his spot on the Louisiana Hayride.
(May 2011)
