Bo Carey, owner of Greer’s Home Furnishings and close friend to Marshal Andy, wrote an article about Andy for a publication called East Tennessee’s Mountain Views. Here it is…
This is the story of Marshal Andy, who jumped in the entertainment saddle almost a century ago and is now galloping along one more roundup right here in our community. He’s been a friend to me, and some would regard him as a true western hero.
Andy Smalls was born in a small coastal South Carolina town in 1929. By the age of seven, he was attending local theaters, idolizing cowboy stars of the classic western movies. His passion for those films led to a childhood job delivering flyers to promote coming movies. It was the first of many marketing jobs for this lifelong promoter.
Andy finished grade school and played football at Clemson for the great coach Frank Howard. As a tough linebacker, he played on the undefeated 1950 team which beat Miami in the Orange Bowl. A knee injury ended his sports career, but disappointment never stopped Andy. Soon, he was singing for popular big bands across the South. Singing proved to be one of his great passions for the next 75 years, with the support of his lovely wife Kathryn and their family. But his other passion for the cowboy movies of old never left his thoughts.
Ed Turner (Ted Turner’s father) brought Andy into the advertising business, with stints in numerous major cities, finally landing in Knoxville. One of his assignments was running a western show at Gold City in North Carolina. He wrote scripts, set up the skits inside the saloon, and also the gunfights out on the street. Playing the villain, Andy was shot and fell down many times each day, leaving his hands scarred with gravel and blood. It was suggested he become the “good guy” and stop getting killed so much. This required a new stage name, and “Marshal Andy” was born.
In Knoxville, he added his promotional flair by hosting the PBS show Riders of the Silver Screen. It became immensely popular, showing movies featuring all his cowboy heroes. Between scenes, Andy (in full cowboy regalia and badge), would sing western hits, often joined by professional musicians he knew. To this day, it is the longest running show in Knoxville television history. Becoming a national celebrity in preserving cowboy music and films, Marshal Andy became great friends with Eddy Arnold, plus developing relationships with Roy Rogers, Archie Campbell, and the Statler Brothers. In fact, Lew DeWitt of the Statler Brothers wrote and recorded “The Knoxville Cowboy” a tribute to Marshal Andy. Andy has performed on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, and I’ve heard him sing “Cattle Call” in classic Eddy Arnold style.
My favorites are the tunes Andy wrote and recorded himself. One is the Waffle House theme to the tune of “Pony Boy”. It’s become a legendary classic for the restaurant chain to this day. Then there’s “Loudon, My Hometown,” which explains why he chose to retire here. He is a true Southern gentleman who still loves to sing. You can hear reruns of his radio show on 96.1 FM at noon each Saturday. Even better his recent YouTube series, Marshal Andy and Friends – The Loudon Sessions, includes two appearances by my father Ham Carey, also born in 1929. The teamed up on “I’ll Fly Away” and “Will the Circle be Unbroken”. How about that? A couple of 96-year-old guys still recording music. Marshal Andy will be forever cherished as a Favorite Son of Loudon… and proof you just can’t keep a good man down.