Through the Airwaves

Arthur Smith was a guitarist, bandleader and songwriter with a couple of standards to his name, “Guitar Boogie” and “Feudin’ Banjos.” But most of all, he was a multi-media genius who created a business empire in Charlotte based on his syndicated television show “Carolina Calling,” which aired for more than three decades. Everyone from Johnny Cash to Richard Nixon appeared on his show. Arthur Smith Enterprises also owned record labels, publishing companies, and the Charlotte recording studio where James Brown recorded “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” in 1965. When “Feudin’ Banjos” appeared in the 1972 movie “Deliverance” as “Dueling Banjos,” Smith sued and won.