Cecil Surratt Born:  August 17, 1926 Died:  September 3, 2006 WCYB Bristol, TN WSLS Roanoke, VA WBBW Welch, WV (1941) WHIS Bluefield, WV (1956)

About The Artist Cecil Surratt enjoyed a career that was based primarily in the Bluefield, West Virginia area. At times his music favored bluegrass, country, folk, and gospel. A "jack of all trades," he also enjoyed success as a radio and TV announcer and dabbled in children's television. A native of Coalwood in rugged McDowell County, Cecil got his first radio experience at newly opened WBBW in Welch, West Virginia in 1941. He also worked in the coal mines and played baseball at 2nd base for the Coalwood Robins. Toward the end of the war, Surratt entered military service. After returning from the service he recorded singles on the M. & L., Howard, and Rich-R-Tone labels. Cecil married in 1950 and moved to Bluewell near Bluefield. Out of music for a time, he then started playing with a squaredance band and emceeing shows at the Bluefield City Auditorium. In 1956, he went to work at WHIS radio and TV in Bluefield. He remained there for ten years, becoming a virtual institution. Cecil hit his peak at Bluefield with partner King Edward (Smitty) Smith IV (B: July 13, 1931 — April 23, 1981). Smith was a talented instrumentalist from Salem, Virginia, in their band the Swing Kings. At times such figures as Melvin Goins and Mel Street appeared on their program. From 1958 through 1963, they recorded a variety of singles and a pair of albums, one released on King's budget label Audio Lab. Their most memorable number was "Montani Semper Liberi" or "Mountaineers Always Free," for the West Virginia Centennial (Buddy Starcher had another title "Star 35"). Aside from music, he also did a children's program for a time in which he hosted such shorts as those of the Three Stooges. Cecil Surratt & Smitty Smith — Record Reviews From Cash Box & The Billboard Date Label Rec No. Review 5/16/1953 (BB) Rich-R-Tone 1059 Where Will You Spend Eternity — The vocal group and Surratt sing about eternity on this fast-tempo religous tune.(Rating: 60) The Bright Crystal Sea — Surratt helped by a chorus comes through adequately on this routine sacred effort. Both sides are poorly(?) recorded. (Rating: 55) 8/22/1959 (CB) King 5226 The Devil And The Farmer — Surratt and chorus handle the vocal chores of the quick-paced, banjo-highlighted folk tune here. Cute side; can make dual-mart noise. (Rating: B+) Poor Ellen Smith — Sad folk ballad is treated to a true balladeer handling by Surratt with more capable assistance from the chorus. (Rating: B) 9/21/1959 (BB) King 5257 Goin' Up Cripple Creek — Humorous vocalizing on a fast moving country item with solid banjo backing. (Rating: Three Stars) Brown Eyes — Heartfelt wailing on a plaintive weeper. (Rating: Three Stars) 9/26/1959 (CB) King 5257 Goin' Up Cripple Creek — Bright and rapid down-home ditty is vigorously attacked by lead Smith and music chorus. Hot guitar and banjo sounds contribute heavily to deck's appeal (Rating: B+) Brown Eyes — Surratt is featured on this end. He gives a sincere reading to a lovely romantic ballad. Both halves can collect loot. (Rating: B+) 9/26/1959 (CB) King 5257 Goin' Up Cripple Creek — Bright and rapid down-home ditty is vigorously attacked by lead Smith and music chorus. Hot guitar and banjo sounds contribute heavily to deck's appeal (Rating: B+) Brown Eyes — Surratt is featured on this end. He gives a sincere reading to a lovely romantic ballad. Both halves can collect loot. (Rating: B+) 2/29/1960 (BB) King 5308 Your Darling's Not Here, Johnny Boy — A tragic tale of woe,. The cat is scratching in vain for hjis chick. It's done in three-beat tempo and the boys give a lot of down-to-earth feeling. A good side. (Rating: Three Stars) The Mighty Mississippi — A bright and snappy, folk-styled country song, done in upbeat style by the boys. Good sound with flashy piano and banjo spots. For traditional marts. (Rating: Three Stars) 8/13/1960 (CB) King 5383 Do You Mean The Words You Say— Country vet duo asks the timeless question, doing it in attractive warm vocal tones. Lovely ballad offering could get them back on the click trail. (Rating: B+) Liza Jane — Arr. Surratt, Smith. Sizzling instrumental slice of the evergreen. Hot guitar pickin' is aided by action-packed combo backing. (Rating: B) 11/21/1960 (BB) King 5420 Midnight— Easy rocking instrumental by Smith and Surratt spots good guitar work on blues-oriented material. (Rating: Three Stars) Millions Can't Buy Your Love From Me — The guitars are at work again on this side and one of the boys sings the vocals which pledges fidelity that money can't buy. (Rating: Two Stars) 2/29/1960 (BB) King 5308 Your Darling's Not Here, Johnny Boy — A tragic tale of woe,. The cat is scratching in vain for hjis chick. It's done in three-beat tempo and the boys give a lot of down-to-earth feeling. A good side. (Rating: Three Stars) The Mighty Mississippi — A bright and snappy, folk-styled country song, done in upbeat style by the boys. Good sound with flashy piano and banjo spots. For traditional marts. (Rating: Three Stars) 6/13/1970 (CB) Upland 5908 A Change In Me — COuld be play in store for this outing. Has possibilities. East Of Eden — Not reviewed. In 1960 Cecil and Smitty took part in West Virginia's first International Folk Music Festival staged in the green forests of Coonskin Park, near Charleston. Some of the other entertainment included Creole music, a Scotch bagpiper, Scandinavian folk songs an dances and an "old country" Bavarian 14-piece brass ensemble. Surratt departed from WHIS in 1966, but often returned for special programs especially fund raisers. Shortly after leaving, he took a good paying job for U. S. Steel at their coal works in Gary, WV. When the plant closed in 1986, he retired. In 1983, he was laid off from his job at a coal mine in West Virgnia. He used part of his unemployment checks to finance a recording about the hard times that jobless people faced. That recording was "Pittsburg City." He recorded the song one year after he was among 1,300 people laid off from U. S. Steel's Gary division. An article informs readers the song was about a many who left West Virginia and landed a job with U. S. Steel in Pittsburgh. He met a little girl from Steubenville, Ohio but broke up with her after finding her with another man. But in the end, he gets laid off by U. S. Steel ... "All the good times are past and gone and I'm left here all alone, stading in this long unemployment line." He remained as choir director at his Baptist Church at Bluewell. Cecil also recorded an LP on Upper Room God Is Near and a cassette Amazing Love (Springtime C 0457) and at least two singles on the Upland label. Binge records in Germany did an LP East of Eden (LP 1008) in 1987. In 2012, BACM in England released a CD Last Mile of the Way (CD 389) containing many of their King efforts. Cecil died at 80, doing his last show three weeks before his death. He was survived by his wife, Ruth Blevins Surratt who he married on October 5, 1950 in Clintwood, Virgnia. Ruth passed away in August 2019 at the age of 88. Credits & Sources Hillbilly-Music.com would like to express its thanks to Ivan M. Tribe, author of Mountaineer Jamboree — Country Music in West Virginia and other books that can be found on Amazon.com and numerous articles in other publications for providing us with information about this artist. International Folk Music Festival Set Sunday At Charleston; July 29, 1960; Raleigh Register; Beckley, WV Unemployment Check Finances Record; June 30, 1983; York Daily Record; York, PA Coal Miner's Fodder June 30, 1983; The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Pittsburgh, PA Get The Music British Archives of Country Music

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Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)   King Rec. No. Side Song Title   5226 A Poor Ellen Smith (w/Smitty Smith)   5226 B The Devil And The Farmer (w/Smitty Smith)   5257 A Going Up Cripple Creek (w/Smitty Smith)   5257 B Brown Eyes (w/Smitty Smith)   5292 A Worried Man (w/Smitty Smith)   5292 B Barbara Allen (w/Smitty Smith)   5308 A The Mighty Mississippi (w/Smitty Smith)   5308 B Your Darling's Not Here, Johnny Boy (w/Smitty Smith)   5383 A Do You Mean The Words You Say (w/Smitty Smith)   5383 B Lil Liza Jane (w/Smitty Smith)   5448 A The Cabin (w/Smitty Smith)   5448 B Just One Little Kiss (w/Smitty Smith)   5528 A Sands Ride (w/Smitty Smith)   5528 B Second Hand Heart (w/Smitty Smith)   5702 A This Land Is Your Land (w/Smitty Smith)   5702 B Bluegrass Mountaineers (w/Smitty Smith)   5759 A Riding The Roads (w/Smitty Smith)   5759 B A Place In The Sun (w/Smitty Smith)   5811 A My Shoes Must Have Followed You (w/Smitty Smith)   5811 B Hello Mr. Heartache (w/Smitty Smith)   M & L Records Rec. No. Side Song Title   1239 A Kneel Down And Pray (w/The West Virginia Mountain Boys)   1239 B Saved And Satisfied (w/The West Virginia Mountain Boys)   Rich-R'-Tone Rec. No. Side Song Title   1059 A The Bright Crystal Sea   1059 B Where Will You Spend Eternity?   Sun Rize Rec. No. Side Song Title   SR 135 A Arms Of Love   SR 135 B Pittsburg City