Russellville native Velma Williams Smith is to be inducted posthumously to the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 24.

Velma was born and raised at Epley Station and was the daughter of Clyde and Era Williams.

In 1940 Velma and her sister Mildred were discovered on a Hopkinsville radio show by Bluegrass great Bill Monroe.  They were invited to audition at the Grand Ole Opry, and for two years were regular performers under the act of the Williams sisters

After Mildred left the act to get married 1941, Velma became a regular part of Roy Acuff’s band, the Smoky Mountain Boys and Girls. She performed on the Opry, traveling tent shows, and even participated in four of Roy Acuff’s Hollywood wartime movies. 

In 1948 Velma married fiddler Hal Smith, and the two continued their careers in country music performance on the Opry as well as other venues.

In the late 1950s Velma was invited by Chet Atkins to become a member of RCA Studios prestigious A-team of studio session recording musicians who performed regularly on top artists recording sessions…..performers like Jim Reeves, Eddy, Arnold, Willie Nelson, Dottie West, Bobby Bare, Hank Snow, Waylon Jennings, Skeeter Davis and a host of others.

Velma continued her career on Music Row in Nashville until her retirement in the late 1960s. 

She was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2014 just a few months prior to her death. 

This month, the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame & Museum at Renfro Valley will induct Velma into their list of well-known Kentuckians who have made a significant contribution to the music industry.

Top RCA Musical recordings featuring Velma Williams Smith on rhythm guitar:

“Oh, Lonesome Me” by Don Gibson (1957)

 "Make the World Go Away"  by Eddy Arnold  (1965)

 "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis (1962) 

"The Party’s Over” by Willie Nelson (1966)“Welcome To My World” by Jim Reeves (1962)

“I’ve Been Everywhere” by Hank Snow (1962)

“ALMOST EIGHTEEN” by Roy Orbison (RCA 1959)

“EVERY WHICH-A-WAY” by Roger Miller (1961)

“Hey Joe” by Carl Smith (1953)

The LoJo

Suzi Burgher Payne is a graduate of Auburn High School, the daughter of the late Jimmy and Gladys Burgher. She lives in Texas with her husband Rex. This is how she explains her connection to Velma Williams Smith:

“She and Mom were first cousins and childhood friends. Velma's father, Clyde Williams, and my grandfather, Bill Williams, were brothers. Both families lived at Epley Station, attended Epley Methodist Church together, sang and played musical instruments for local ‘Moonlight Dances.’ Mom and Velma both attended the Epley one room school together until Velma moved to Nashville at age 14 to be part of Roy Acuff's band. Acuff and his wife were granted guardianship of Velma, and she lived when them when the band was not on the road performing.