RIP Tommy Smothers

[twocorgis]

Tom Smothers just passed away. This photo appeared on the NYT obit page. Not totally sure of the model. Is it a D55?

Yes, called the "TV Special" before it became an official model.

 

[Uke]

Tom Smothers just passed away. This photo appeared on the NYT obit page. Not totally sure of the model. Is it a D55?

Every time I see a photo of him holding a sunburst D-55 I want one (mine is natural).

 

[Boneman]

RIP Tom, yes, his special Guild launched an icon

 

[West R Lee]

I THINK Tommy Smother's D55 was the first Guild guitar I'd ever seen back in the 60's......if it was even called a "D55" back then. Seems like Hans or somebody said it was a prototype.

West

 

[walrus]

Calling all mods! A fourth Tommy Smothers thread to merge!

This redundancy is great, though - Tommy would love the accolades we have given him over the years, and now again with his passing.

 

[GGJaguar]

Awww, man. The Master of Yo and Guild Master. RIP.

 

[bobouz]

I probably watched every episode of their three year run on CBS, graduating from high school in its last year, 1969. Although it would be two more years until I began playing guitar, I thought his Guild was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen! So naturally, once I picked up the instrument, it didn’t take long before I was drooling over Guilds - purchasing four of them new before the close of the ‘70s. Thank you, Tom, for all you did, and for playing that gorgeous guitar!

 

[silverfox103]

I remember them first as folk musicians, along with the Kingston Trio, Chad Mitchell Trio and the New Christy Minstrels etc. Then they added comedy which separated them from the rest. On to Ed Sullivan Show and then their own variety show. Remember "presidential candidate" Pat Paulsen, who was a regular on the show? The ball was really rolling for them, that is until they kept butting heads with the CBS censors and probably their views on the Viet Nam War. After 3 solid years, they were gone, although they did make a comeback but it was short lived. They shifted to the concert tours and Las Vegas shows. They had a good long career and did well.

Within the past year or so, they were on CBS Sunday Morning. Kind of ironic as CBS was the one who fired them.



RIP Tommy

Tom

 

[adorshki]

Another great shot of him with a Guild

He was the father of the D55. Started off ordering "D50 Specials" in '63, D50's with F50 necks. Got so popular on the show they decided to call it the "Television D55". Special order from '68-'74, then became "regular production".

 

[silverfox103]

Hard not to think also of Glen Campbell when thinking about the Smothers Brothers. Amazing entertainers.

Were the Smothers Brothers summer replacements for Glen Campbell, or was Glen Campbell a replacement for someone? Maybe Johnny Cash? Or were both summer replacements?

Tom

 

[chazmo]

A little before my time, but RIP, Tommy Smothers. We have the brothers to thank for early D-55 sales and perhaps the existence of the model...

 

[Midnight Toker]

My first non classical concert….must have been around 6-7 yrs old. My parents took me to Wolftrap Farm Park in northern Virginia to see local upstart Starland Vocal Band open for the Smothers Bros and Joan Baez. Smothers Bros were the definite highlight for me.

 

[Uke]

Were the Smothers Brothers summer replacements for Glen Campbell, or was Glen Campbell a replacement for someone? Maybe Johnny Cash? Or were both summer replacements?

Tom

I think I read that Glen Campbell was a summer replacement for the Smothers Brothers.

 

[adorshki]

I THINK Tommy Smother's D55 was the first Guild guitar I'd ever seen back in the 60's......if it was even called a "D55" back then. Seems like Hans or somebody said it was a prototype.

West

He started by ordering "D50 Specials", D50's with F50 necks. Guild started calling 'em the "Television D55" 'cause of its popularity on the show

 

[adorshki]

I think I read that Glen Campbell was a summer replacement for the Smothers Brothers.

'at's what Wiki says, in '68, then got a "regular" show in '69.

 

[walrus]

Don't want to veer, but let me just say that I loved the Glen Campbell Show! He followed the Smothers Brothers model of having great musical guests every week. Noting the other thread on '70's TV shows, there are so many shows I looked forward to in those days, these are definitely two of them!

 

[tonepoet]

Don't want to veer, but let me just say that I loved the Glen Campbell Show! He followed the Smothers Brothers model of having great musical guests every week. Noting the other thread on '70's TV shows, there are so many shows I looked forward to in those days, these are definitely two of them!

With John Hartford standing up in the audience playing banjo at the opening of the show credits. Hartford wrote "Gentle On My Mind" that was a hit for Campbell and others.

 

[Central Florida Folkie]

Aw, man…I came to NJ to see family, friends and attend a wedding but then my mother-in-law got COVID, all our plans got cancelled, and now I see this. 2024 better start better than 2023 is ending!

 

[Westerly Wood]

This is just brilliant:

 

[Wilmywood]

This is just brilliant:

Boy that Guild sounds GOOD