Bill Black (bassist in Elvis Presley's early band) formed Bill Black's Combo in 1959. The original lineup was Black (bass), Joe Lewis Hall (piano), Reggie Young (guitar), Martin Willis (saxophone), and Jerry Arnold (drums). There were several personnel changes over the next couple of years (Hank Hankins, Chips Moman or Tommy Cogbill on guitar; Ace Cannon on sax; Carl McVoy or Bobby Emmons on piano). Smokie, Part 2 and White Silver Sands were U.S. pop hits (#17 and #9 respectively), and both made #1 on the R&B charts. Eight of their recordings placed in the Top 40 between 1959 and 1962. They were voted Billboard's number one instrumental group of 1961.
The band continued to produce albums after Black's death in late 1965.