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What local band has opened for acts including Emmylou Harris, Doc Watson, and the Del McCoury Band? Here is another hint. They became so popular that the band’s name drew the attention of a major clothing manufacturer. Yes, of course, we are talking about Big Smith. And for those who have been living under a big rock down on Bull Creek (sorry I couldn’t resist), 2022 marks the 25th Anniversary Celebration for this legendary group.
The band dates to 1996. It was 25 years ago (give or take a few months) that Big Smith performed onstage at The Bar Next Door in their hometown of Springfield, MO. After a 2005 documentary, "Homemade Hillbilly Jam," put Big Smith in front of international audiences, the band went from labor of love to full-time occupation, until members moved on to other projects seven years later.
The band recorded six albums from 1997 through 2011. Although those albums were popular, the band made hay doing live performances. Hundreds and hundreds of them. All over the place.
Throughout the years, at the core, Big Smith has always been a family band. Yes, there have been exceptions. Molly Healey, who now performs with the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, was a member of Big Smith for several years. And a few folks have filled in at times when original members were not available.
That said. Big Smith is a family band consisting of a group of brother/cousins. Brothers Mark and Jody Bilyeu. Brothers Jay and Mike Williamson. And brothers Rik and Bill Thomas. They are all first cousins.
It all began in the early 90s when Mark Bilyeu began performing solo shows featuring folk, old timey, mountain and gospel music.
Eventually, Mark’s cousin, Jay, joined Mark to provide backup for Mark. Jay primarily played the washboard to compliment Mark’s collection of songs.
Mark then convinced his brother Jody to join them on mandolin (Jody also plays keyboards). Mike soon joined on the upright bass.
The brother/cousins were performing in Springfield and surrounding areas. At this point they were not known as Big Smith.
So where did the name come from? Yes, Big Smith overalls. It is generally agreed that the brother/cousins were playing a local tavern when during an interview they were asked what they called themselves. Mike Williamson was wearing Big Smith bib overalls, and someone, perhaps Mike, said “we are called Big Smith.”
The name and the bib overalls stuck. There you have it.
By the late 90s, Cousin Rik joined the entourage as the sound engineer and assumed booking duties. Rik was soon singing harmony with his cousins whenever the opportunity arose.
At one point, Mike left the band to explore other opportunities. Rik’s brother Bill Thomas joined the band replacing Mike on the bass. It was around that time that Molly joined the band and Rik joined his brother and cousins onstage. The band travelled the Midwest in a white, 15 passenger, Ford van with a pull behind enclosed trailer for gear. They affectionately called the van “Mother Maybelle” after Maybelle Carter.
Big Smith gained a large and loyal following and performed well over 100 shows each year from the late 90s until 2012 when the group disbanded -- much to the disappointment of their loyal fans.
During that run, the band made some legendary appearances. Those include some packed houses all over the Midwest. They developed a large following in the Fayetteville, AR. George’s Majestic Lounge on Dickson Street was, and is to this day, one of the best places to see a live Big Smith show.
Speaking of Fayetteville, the band once played at halftime at a University of Arkansas Razorback football game. They set up on the “hog” at midfield, and the Razorback marching band and cheerleaders joined them for several arrangements of Big Smith songs. There were approximately 70,000 in attendance that day. Following the game, Big Smith did a performance on the sideline for fans.
What is the most exotic location big Smith has played? That would be Craponne, France (near Lyon). The band was the headliner act on the final day of the Country Rendez-Vous Festival in south central France in 2008 (watch video here).
Although Big Smith officially dissolved in 2012, that was not to be the end of the popular group. Big Smith reunited to perform two shows on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2016, at the historic Gillioz Theatre on the square in downtown Springfield, MO.
The band has continued to play select dates since then, performing several times each year. There are several shows scheduled for this year (2022).
The current brother/cousin lineup for Big Smith includes Mark, Jody, Mike, Jay, and Rik. They are all multi-instrumentalists and continue to play crowd favorites such as 12” 3 Speed Oscillating Fan, Don’t Call Me Trash and more.
Check out the Big Smith Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/bigsmithband, for upcoming shows.
Check out The Acoustic Shoppe Music Can’t Be Quarantined featuring Big Smith
Check out the Homemade Hillbilly Jam Documentary https://homemadehillbillyjam1.vhx.tv/packages/homemade-hillbilly-jam-deluxe-edition/videos/hhj-pal-of-vimeo
Discography:
Big Smith (1997)
Big Rock (2000)
Gig (2001)
From Hay to Zzzzzz: Hillbilly Songs for Kids (2002)
Roots, Shoots, & Wings (2010)
Kin (2011)
The Acoustic Shoppe is proud to carry on the tradition of producing and promoting live and recorded music featuring local and national musicians from our Springfield, MO sound stages. Be sure to watch our television show Ozark Music Shoppe and follow us on our social media channels.
For more information, give us a call at 417-720-1223, shoot us an email at info@theacousticshoppe.com, or stop by our showroom at 1913 E Seminole St. in Springfield, Missouri.
