Benny Smith

WUTK general manager Benny Smith has always been a tireless promoter of the Knoxville music scene. Since his early days with the station in the late 1980s, Smith has probably done as much as any one person could to keep the local music scene alive, whether through his involvement with the station, as promoter with A.C. Entertainment or just as a fan, sharing his love of music with anyone willing to listen. Knoxville Voice recently sat down with Smith to discuss the music of some of his favorite artists.

The Beastie Boys
“Egg Man"
From Paul's Boutique (1989)

BS: One of the greatest bands I've ever seen live. I got to see them on the Licensed To Ill tour, and this was before they made them take the dancing chicks out of the cages, and boy, that was amazing down there in Atlanta.

KV: This always reminds me of the summer of '89. On your radio station that summer, this was big that year and “Every Summer” by Smokin' Dave was all over. One of the hottest summers I can ever remember.

BS: Yep, it was, and what a great summer. That was a breakout summer for rap music, basically. I remember some people getting kind of pissed off, too, you know. Some of the hardcore New Rock 90 listeners saying, ‘Yeah, some people are starting to call it ‘New Rap 90'' because we were playing [Public Enemy] and De La Soul, Jungle Brothers and Digital Underground. It was just starting to blow up, plus it was just great, the stuff that was coming out then. Big Daddy Kane – on and on. It's pretty amazing, the staying power of that music, but shit, I saw it coming.

George Jones
“White Lightning”
From White Lightning and Other Favorites (1959)

BS: This could be a theme song, pretty much, for where I grew up. And it basically is for all of East Tennessee, Southwest Virginia – and who else better to sing it, you know, than a man with plenty of experience.

KV: This was Roger Miller's song originally, I guess.

BS: But he never got caught going down the road on a lawn mower to the liquor store, so take that Scott Miller!

The Arcade Fire
“Neighborhood #2 (Laika)”
From Funeral (2004)

BS: This band is – keep your eye on them, cause like I tell a lot of DJs when we train them, bands we play today are going to be on MTV Cribs three or four years from now (laughs). And this is a band that I think will be right at the top of the heap.

Guided By Voices
“Glad Girls”
From Isolation Drills (2001)

BS: When I got the [contract] rider to do the first show I did with them at the Mercury Theatre, I called their booking agent up, and I said, 'Are you kidding me? Do they really need this much beer?' And I'm like, 'No, really! Do they really need this much beer?' which I'd always heard, but yeah, and it was like two cases before the show, two cases during and two cases after, and I think some liquor, too. This was even back with [singer Robert Pollard's brother Jim] and [guitarists Tobin Sprout] and all those guys. That is a show that blew my mind that night. And they just had a great time, and they drank every fucking bit of that beer and more!

Lester Flatts and Early Scruggs
“Keep On The Sunny Side”
From Songs of the Famous Carter Family (1961)

BS: Sounds like “Keep on the Sunny Side.”

KV: You are correct.

BS: Sounds like Lester. Is it?

KV: Yep. Lester and Earl.

BS:  What a great connection there to Knoxville, you know, when they left Bill Monroe, basically went to Knoxville and Bristol and set up camp and started a radio show here and in Bristol, and good God, arguably the most popular bluegrass band of all time because of their exposure through [television show] “Beverly Hillbillies” and all, too.

AC/DC
“Can I Sit Next To You Girl”
From High Voltage (1976)

BS: What a great, great Australian rock ‘n' roll band. Now I've gone from the great Australian band AC/DC to the great Australian band the Wiggles — that's what I'm listening to now (laughs); which sells more records than any Australian band or entertainer? So you've got to give them that.

KV: Even more than AC/DC?

BS: Yeah. They make more money than Nicole Kidman.

KV: Even more than Men At Work?

BS: (laughs) Yeah, even more than Olivia Newton John.

KV: Silverchair?

BS: Silverhcair! (laughs) God, almighty! Mad Max movies.

Smokin' Dave and the Premo Dopes
“Longbranch Daze”
From Live and Not Lern (1987)

BS: (hums guitar intro) What a great song! I mean, that is one of those songs, “Longbranch Daze,” where I here it, I automatically think of the Fort. Like “Every Summer,” I mean, it is a soundtrack to the Fort.

Curtis Mayfield
“Check Out Your Mind” (live)
From Curtis/Live! (1971)

BS: Sounds like live Curtis. What a legend, smooth as silk. What a great guitar player, too. That's one of them things that kind of gets overlooked ‘cause he's such a great songwriter and singer and great stage presence.

Rolling Stones
“She's A Rainbow”
From Their Satanic Majesties Request (1967)

BS: The greatest rock ‘n' roll band in the world – the Rolling Stones! This is one of those songs I always thought I would like to hear a band cover and pull off and see their take on it. The V-Roys – I would have loved to hear their take on this song, how they would have done it.

Robbie Fulks
“Fuck This Town”
From South Mouth (1997)

BS: Is that Robbie Fulks? Great fucking songwriter – just so funny, man. I got a chance to work with him at the Tennessee Theatre, and oh man, what a great dude, too. He's so underappreciated, overlooked guy, I think, and one of those guys that I wish that back in the day would have had a consistent show in this town because he would be huge here, I think. If more people in this town heard him, they'd love him.