Kenny Smith and his Westerners

About The Artist In 1958, we found the then 23-year old Steel guitar player being written about in a magazine. They wrote he had been 'steeling' the show since 1947. He got his start in radio in 1949. Upon graduation from high school, he joined Dean Armstrong's group, playing the guitar and also handling vocal chores. In 1954, he formed his own group and they were regulars at the Tucson Gardens while also doing radio and television shows. In 1958, he was appearing regularly with his group at the Open Door six nights a week. They said he also appeared in the morning / am hours at "El Casino". Credits & Sources Country Song Roundup No. 54; February 1958; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT