A Mirror obituary last month for Joanne Lingenfelter, 95, of Bedford, listed her musically celebrated brother, Charles “Smokey” Pleacher, as a deceased sibling.

Smokey, along with Altoona native Janet Blair, made show business names for themselves beginning in the 1940s. Janet was in motion pictures and TV, while Smokey was a country and western entertainer who performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville and later in a Hollywood film.

Joanne Lingenfelter, along with her other siblings, basked in the glow of Smokey’s success, which earned him mention as a “Morrisons Cove Giant of the 20th Century.”

He was born in Manns Choice in 1918, but was moved by his family to Claysburg 10 years later. The origin of his nickname is uncertain. Pleacher began his musical career at the age of 3, teaching himself how to play a small harmonica. By the time he was 25, he could play any stringed instrument. He was entirely self-taught.

Although he later gained recognition as a country comedian, he was accomplished playing guitars, violins, banjos, basses and the harmonica. His singing voice was, according to country showbiz impresario Doc Williams, “capable of handling any type of music — country, pop, rock and roll.”

In 1947, after performing with the Claysburg area’s Jim and Jane Claar’s troupe, the “Western Vagabonds,” Smokey made his first trip to Wheeling, West Virginia, one of several meccas of country singing. He signed on with the late Hawkshaw Hawkins of the WWVA (radio) Jamboree. His first real step into the big time came in 1955-56 when he signed on the work at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. It was here that he would gain the fame that would last the rest of his lifetime.

Unfortunately, the riches he earned from a highly successful career were wasted on high living that included gambling and alcohol. During his peak earning years, Doc Williams estimates, “He certainly earned more than $100,000 at a time when that was real money.”

The Claars tried to help. “I had to assist Smokey pay off his bills, including federal tax debts, before giving him what was left of his paycheck. He was a thoroughly delightful man with unique talent, but he didn’t know how to handle money.”

Early in the 1960s, Pleacher reached what was perhaps the high point of his career when he appeared in the movie “Road to Nashville” with such stars as Hank Williams, Minnie Pearl and Tex Ritter. Smokey played the part of a comedian in the movie, and was pleased when the film appeared later in our area.

Poor health started to hinder Pleacher’s career and he returned home. He was admitted to the Altoona VA hospital in mid-1971 and died of cancer on Sept. 15. He was married once, to Ethel Neterer of Roaring Spring.

“Being married to a show business personality like Smokey was not always easy,” Mrs. Pleacher told me, “but it was never boring, either.”

My 30-year collection of columns about Smokey, other area personalities, history and human interest subjects will soon be available for public research at the Blair County Historical Society located at Baker Mansion, Altoona.

Cove historian Jim Wentz writes a monthly column for the Mirror.