Smothers Brothers Biography

The Smothers Brothers originally came together as comedic performers about five decades ago. A combination of witty banter blended with folk songs became their trademark style, and by the 1960’s, they were appearing on television shows and on stage regularly. The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was a comedic staple for the decade, until Tom and Dick eventually offended the network with their political criticism, ending the show’s run in 1969.

During the show’s heyday, however, innumerous top-name celebrities performed with the Smothers Brothers to a primetime audience. Many artists who would not have been otherwise accepted on major network shows due to their political activism or affiliation found a home with Tom and Dick. Artists which graced the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour include: Joan Baez; The Doors; Peter, Paul, and Mary; The Who; Simon and Garfunkel; Steppenwolf; and Harry Belafonte.

After the show was cancelled, the Smothers Brothers returned to television in the decades following with featured specials and other comedy series, all of which were consistently successful. They also began a lengthy run in Las Vegas, and occasionally performed on nationwide tours with orchestras. In 2010, the Smothers Brothers concluded their Las Vegas shows and announced a retirement from touring, with a final performance at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in May of that year. Family and close friends were in attendance to give the Smothers Brothers a proper send-off. Tom and Dick now run the Remick Ridge Vineyards in Sonoma County, California, a vineyard named after their mother.

The Smothers Brothers have been recognized for their contributions to entertainment with a variety of awards. They received the George Carlin Freedom of Expression Award in 2003, and the Boston Comedy Festival presented them with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. That same year, Tom Smothers received an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedic Series, belatedly, for the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and two years later, in 2010, the Smothers Brothers were inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Today, the brothers perform together less often, having announced their “retirement” in 2010. Dick Smothers has gone on to enjoy amateur automobile racing as his favorite pastime, and Tom is currently the owner of Remick Ridge Vineyards in Sonoma County, California. In 2011, Tom was honored by the ACLU’s Sonoma chapter for his efforts to support civil liberties and freedom of speech.