Margo Smith is back and yodeling like the good old days.
Smith, the beloved hall of fame gospel/country singer who lives in The Village of Chatham, made her first professional appearance Saturday night after a near fatal auto accident last August. Country singer Johnny Ray opened.
“I can’t wait to get back on stage and I’m not nervous,” Smith, 72 said before the show. Her husband Richard said Margo was “a little apprehensive but she’s ready.”
Smith made a triumphant return to her storied singing career.
She belted out songs and joked with the capacity crowd at the American Legion Post 347. But she really cranked up the energy and got the place jumping during her first set when she sang, “He Taught Me How to Yodel.”
That’s when the world discovered it will take more than a driver running a red light and crashing into Smith’s two-door sports convertible to stop Margo.
Law enforcement said without her seatbelt, or if the convertible top was down, Margo would not have survived. As it was, she suffered severe injuries to her wrist and leg. She spent nearly three months away from home living in a rehabilitation facility.
The pain, anguish and suffering seemed to vanish when “The Tennessee Yodeler” stepped in front of that microphone and started doing what she does just about better than anyone else: yodeling.
“He taught me to yodel,” Smith sang, and then got to the good part: “Yodel-oh-ee-dee/Diddly-odel-oh-ee-dee/Diddly-odel-oh-ee-dee.”
To some this may have sounded strange, but to legions of Margo Smith fans, it’s cool and they understand every yodel, including: “Yodel-oh-ee-dee-ay-dee
Yodel-oh-ee-dee-yodel-oh-dee.”
Soon, the dance floor was alive and people were swinging back and forth and singing along. Afterwards, Smith earned a rousing, standing ovation from many of her fans at what was billed as an early Valentine’s Day party.
To see Smith yodeling, follow the link below:
“She’s the best yodeler in the world,” said longtime fan and Smith’s Chatham neighbor Erwin Muschter. He attended the show with his wife Beverly and great-granddaughter Lily, 7 months old. “Margo’s no kid, but man she can still yodel. I love it.”
It was an emotional night but filled with the kind of fun and good feeling that Smith has created throughout her long career. She looked energized, wearing a dark blue pantsuit, decorated with mint-green rhinestone flowers and also a mint-green scarf.
On stage, Smith commands attention. Many of the fans came up to take pictures, hug her and tell her how glad they felt about her recovery. Margo and her husband often attend and sing at Fairway Christian Church. Margo will appear there on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. for a gospel and jazz variety show.
“We want to thank for all your prayers and kind letters,” Richard told the audience. “It meant so much to Margo and our family.” Earlier this year, Richard had said that, “God is good and He was always there for Margo.” She said earlier the accident has caused her, to “love life and live each day as much as I can.”
Smith is an old-school country singer reminiscent in some ways to Kitty Wells, Patsy Cline and Tammy Wynette. “Margo has that voice that makes you feel the roots of country music,” said Tony Mongerio, who played bass in Smith’s band. “Her music is real and she is what country music is all about.”
Smith may have tiny physical stature but her voice can crackle with emotion. It was that way back in the 1970s when she made her mark with a couple of No. 1 songs: “Don’t Break the Heart That Loves You” and “It Only Hurts For a Little While.”
During the show, Smith displayed her vocal chops on a demanding number, “I’m Not Lisa.” It’s a slow-moving ballad the tests the vocal range of a performer and Smith passed with flying colors.
“Her voice still sounds great,” said Villager Nancy Nase. “I remember, we were going to go to her show but then the accident happened. We didn’t know what would happen after that, or if she would sing again.
“But tonight, Margo’s here and she’s healthy and sounds great. It’s her first show back. It’s a very special night and she is a very special person.”
