Singer-Songwriter (better known as a songwriter) Micheal Smotherman, RIP

From his Facebook page from his daughter: Hello all. My beautiful and amazing dad passed away peacefully early this morning. Thank you all so much for all your prayers and words of encouragement. This world just won't be the same without him in it. He loved you all.

Micheal was a great songwriter, writing many of Glen Campbell's later period hits including Can You Fool among other songs.

 

Obituary for Micheal W Smotherman at Fatheree-Albert Funeral Home

 

I thought the name rang a bell - Michael Smotherman was the keyboardist in Captain Beefheart's so-called "Tragic Band" in 1974. Here's a funny Internet commentary from Smotherman about it (even if he criticizes some musicians I like): Message from Micheal Smotherman – Captain Beefheart Radar Station

 

Brad, I missed your post last week, as I was out of town. Being a pretty huge fan of Glen Campbell, I would often see Michael's songwriting credits on his late 70's and early '80's albums. The one album that was truly a harvest of Michael's songwriting was Glen's "Basic" album, where nearly every song was written by him. I really enjoy the "Basic" album, as it was not about the "hits", but rather, just a damn fine album of interesting (and somewhat different for Glen), type of songs.

Michael was no Randy Goodrum, who is one of my favorite Nashville songwriters, but he did write some interesting songs for Glen, when he really needed something a little different and fresh, from the Lambert/Potter productions, that Glen succeeded with, but kind of wore out in the mid '70's.

Glen Campbell fans, please be sure to check out "Basic", if you have never heard it, as you might just enjoy it for it's simplicity and for it's honesty of allowing Glen to just be Glen.

Basic (Glen Campbell album) - Wikipedia