Cal Smith, born Calvin Grant Shofner on April 7, 1932, in Gans, Oklahoma, was an influential American country musician known for his rich baritone voice and storytelling style. Raised in Oakland, California, Smith began his music career at the age of 15, performing at the Remember Me Cafe in San Francisco. Despite early financial struggles, he gained experience on the California Hayride television show before serving two years in the military.

After his discharge, Smith played in a band in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he caught the attention of country music legend Ernest Tubb. Tubb hired him as a guitarist for the Texas Troubadours, and Smith played on many of Tubb's 1960s recordings. In 1966, Smith's solo career began to take off with the release of "I'll Just Go Home" on Kapp Records, followed by his first charting single, "The Only Thing I Want."

Smith's breakthrough came after he left the Texas Troubadours in 1969 and released his first solo album, "Drinking Champagne." His career soared in the 1970s after signing with Decca Records, which later became MCA Records. He achieved his first number-one country hit with "The Lord Knows I'm Drinking" in 1973 and followed it with his signature song, "Country Bumpkin," in 1974. This track earned him Song of the Year awards from both the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.

Throughout the late 1970s, Smith continued to enjoy success with hits like "Between Lust and Watching TV" and "I Just Came Home to Count the Memories." His final album, "Stories of Life by Cal Smith," was released in 1986. Smith spent his later years in the Branson, Missouri area with his wife, Darlene, where he enjoyed fishing. Cal Smith passed away on October 10, 2013, leaving behind a legacy as a beloved figure in country music.