Carl Smith, a singer and guitarist who became one of country music’s most popular and durable performers and who was the first husband of singer June Carter, died Jan. 16. He was 82.

Dubbed “The Country Gentleman,” Smith developed a style that captured the raw twang of Hank Williams Sr. and Roy Acuff but smoothed their rough edges. The approach gave him many hits, with a string of 21 consecutive top 10 Billboard country songs from 1951 to 1955. He remained a consistent hitmaker into the 1970s.

“He was ruggedly handsome and wore custom-tailored clothes,” said John Rumble, senior historian at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “Back then, when people wanted to see a star, they didn’t want to see someone in blue jeans. They wanted someone who looked like a star. And he was smart enough to pick really good, commercial songs.”