The younger, “smarter,” and according to brother and longtime performing partner Tom, the “one that Mom always liked best,” Dick Smothers was one half of the popular music-comedy duo, The Smothers Brothers. Launched as a folk act in 1959, Dick and Tom soon won over audiences by adding comic bits between the songs, usually focused around their alleged sibling rivalry. Their popularity on stage led to appearances on television and their own network series, “The Smothers Brothers Show” (CBS, 1965-66). But it was their next TV attempt that elevated the brothers from mainstream comedians to
Made their debut as a duo of folk singers, with Tom on acoustic guitar and Dick on stand-up bass
1961
Released their successful debut album, Live at the Purple Onion
1961
Appeared regularly on "The New Steve Allen Show" (ABC)
1965
Co-starred with brother, Dick, in the CBS comedy “The Smothers Brothers Show”
1967
Again collaborated with his brother for the controversial CBS variety show “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour”; when the show was abruptly canceled due to issues of censorship, the Brothers filed a successful breach of contract suit against the network
