Chester Smith

While never earning the recognition or acclaim afforded fellow Bakersfield sound exponents like Merle Haggard or Buck Owens, country singer Chester Smith remains best remembered for originating the oft-covered "Wait a Little Longer, Please Jesus" but enjoyed his greatest success as a media mogul, founding a broadcasting empire that revolutionized Spanish-language programming in the U.S. Smith was born March 29, 1930 in Durant, OK. His family fled the Dust Bowl for California in 1935, and settled in a migrant camp outside of Fresno. Smith launched his performing career at age nine, singing Gene Autry songs on Fresno radio station KMJ, In 1942, the family settled in Modesto, where he became a fixture on local station KTRB, at 16 dropping out of school to host his own daily program. Slated behind future country legends the Maddox Brothers & Rose, Smith licensed his own air time by selling advertising inventory; the show quickly earned a devoted fan following, and he remained with the station for over 16 years, over time welcoming guests spanning from Hank Williams to Lefty Frizzell to Johnny Cash. The program was also a launching pad for emerging talents including Haggard, Owens, Marty Robbins, and Del Reeves. Though still a minor, Smith formed his own band in 1951, headlining area venues including the Riverbank Club House. In clubs where liquor was served, the group simply performed without him. Smith signed to Capitol Records in 1953, scoring the biggest hit of his career a year later with "Wait a Little Longer, Please Jesus," co-written with local housewife Hazel Houser -- a massive country-gospel hit, the song was later covered by acts including Bill Monroe, Carl Smith, Porter Wagoner, and the Louvin Brothers. Despite the success of "Wait a Little Longer," Smith's...