Country guitarist Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith began his recording career in 1938 for RCA Victor's Bluebird label, but didn't gain wide fame until a decade later when MGM released Guitar Boogie. This 78 single (later on 45) was a massive hit, expanding the fan base of Smith and his band, the Cracker Jacks, way beyond their normal country audience.
Although Smith claimed authorship of Guitar Boogie, black blues guitarists had been playing similar riffs for years. Guitar Boogie, its flip side Boomerang and other early recordings by Smith were purchased by MGM from the small Super Disc label. Since almost everyone has heard Guitar Boogie at one time or another, here's a link where you can catch Boomerang.
Boomerang
Guitar Boogie, Boomerang and the vast majority of Smith's MGM sides are widely available on CD and via downloads. One of the best CD compilations is One Good Boogie Deserves Another, from the French Jasmine label.
You should be able to get a copy of this for $10 or less.
Guitar Boogie has become one of the most frequently recorded guitar instrumentals in the 60-plus years since Arthur Smith's version. A rock 'n' roll version, Guitar Boogie Shuffle, was a hit for The Virtues in 1959. But here, from YouTube, is Smith's original.
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