O. C. Smith

Ocie Lee Smith (June 21, 1932 – November 23, 2001), known professionally as O. C. Smith, was an American singer. His recording of "Little Green Apples" went to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968 and sold over one million records.

Smith was also in demand elsewhere as vocalist and under-billed on Art Mooney's January 1956 MGM cover version of the Little Richard hit "Tutti Frutti". The release was not a hit, but convinced MGM Records to sign Smith to a solo contract, resulting in three more releases, but still no hits.

In 1961, Smith was recruited by Count Basie to be his vocalist, a position he held until 1965. He also continued to record with different labels, but a hit remained elusive. By 1968, Smith's then label, Columbia Records, was ready to release him from his recording contract, when he entered the charts for the first time with "The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp",

He continued to record, reaching the R&B, Adult Contemporary and pop charts in his home country with the likes of "Daddy's Little Man", reaching a Top 30 position. in Los Angeles.

He was survived by his wife Robbie Gholson Smith, his four children with former wife Lorraine Smith: Sherryn Smith, Ocie Lee Smith III, Kelly T. Smith and Robert Francis Smith, sons Jesse Hayes IV and Frank Hayes, daughter Bonnie Dykes, and 10 grandchildren

His book, Little Green Apples: God Really Did Make Them, that he co-wrote with James Shaw, was published posthumously in 2003.

Discography Singles Year Single Peak chart positions US USR&B USAC UK CAN Country AUS 1967"That's Life" 127----- 1968"The Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp"4032-243"Main Street Mission"105-----"Little Green Apples"224--35"Isn't It Lonely Together"6340---62 1969"Honey (I Miss You)"444419---"Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife" 472517--25"Daddy's Little Man"3496---"Me and You"10338---- 1970"Moody"114-38---"Primrose Lane"86-4--53"Baby, I Need Your Loving"523021--82 1971"Help Me Make It Through the Night"9138---- 1972"Don't Misunderstand"102----- 1974"La La Peace Song"62-36--- 1976"Together"-621425-- 1978"Love to Burn"-3429--- 1982"Love Changes"-68---- 1986"What'cha Gonna Do"-53----"You're the First, the Last, My Everything"-52---- 1987"Brenda"-58----

Albums 1966 The Dynamic O.C. Smith 1968 Hickory Holler Revisited 1969 O.C. Smith at Home 1969 For Once in My Life 1970 Greatest Hits 1971 Help Me Make It through the Night 1974 La La Peace Song 1977 Together 1979 Love Is Forever 1980 Dreams Come True 1982 Love Changes 1993 After All Is Said and Done 2000 I Give My Heart to You 2000 Beach Music Classics and Love Songs

Filmography 2009 O.C. Smith: How Sweet It Is