about us
Admiral Radio, the award-winning folk/Americana act from South Carolina, is the creative partnership of Coty Hoover and Becca Smith. Named after their old wooden radio, this husband-and-wife team blends heartfelt harmonies, storytelling, and raw sincerity. Having met while waiting tables in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, their sound is straightforward yet powerful—rooted in tight vocal interplay and finely picked acoustic instruments. Inspired by the everyday, their songs explore life lessons, the quiet hustle of ordinary life, and the dogged optimism that drives it all.
Simply put, Becca and Coty aim to leave listeners better than they found them. With a personal sincerity and honest performance, you might shed a few tears and roll with laughter. The duo has three independently-produced albums under their belt; their debut original record Sounds Like You (2020) and Songs From the Vault (2022), an EP of songs from the public domain. Their latest album, Good Things Take Time (2024), has garnered critical acclaim and national radio play, with tracks like "Look Back and Learn" praised by American Songwriter for its 'power to help and heal'. The group has also earned finalist and first-place honors in prestigious songwriting competitions around the country, including Kerrville NewFolk, the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, the International Bluegrass Music Association's Official Songwriter Showcase, and the MerleFest Band Competition.
Known for their energetic and emotional live shows, Admiral Radio has shared stages with bluegrass legend Del McCoury, folkgrass icon Molly Tuttle, pop-rock sensation Judah & the Lion, and more. From humble beginnings to their growing buzz, Admiral Radio is redefining the folk tradition with every mile down America's backroads.
"Admiral Radio is one of those groups that reminds you why you got into the arts in the first place."
–Chris DeVore, Mountain Home, Idaho Arts Council Director
about the radio
Founded in 1934, Admiral Corp. and was once one of America's top producers of radios, TVs, and phonographs. At the height of World War II, Admiral was the weekly sponsor for CBS Radio Network's Sunday evening program,World News Today. As cheaper, foreign imports made their way into the American economy, Admiral began to crumble. What was once as recognizable as saying 'Apple' or 'Amazon', Admiral would be bought and sold to a long list of buyers, eventually fading from the U.S. market altogether.
As fate would have it, Becca's late grandfather, Charlie Smith, Sr., was actually a salesman for Admiral. In fact, he was awarded "Top Salesman of the Year" for the state of South Carolina many years in a row and even won a trip to Rio with his wife through the company, pictured above. The award you see in the picture to the right sits atop of Becca and Coty's very own Admiral radio today. How's that for divine intervention? Although her grandfather passed away many years before she was born, Becca and Coty are proud to help him continue the Admiral legacy.
For Becca and Coty, the name Admiral has acquired new significance. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get lost in the noise. When they think of their '41 Admiral radio, they picture the folks of that era gathered around their radios at night, listening to the evening news and programs. The radio was absolutely the source, the hub. They imagine folks huddled 'round together, listening to the radio.
And as a band, this duo redefines what it's like to gather around the radio in modern times - always keeping music at the heart of community. Admiral Radio weaves a sonic tapestry of timeless folk roots and powerful harmonies by getting back to the basics of good songwriting and honest lyrics that paint a picture of life as we know it. Their hope is to allow listeners to steal away from the daily hustle and bustle - to drive in the Slow Lane for awhile.
Becca and Coty are old souls. Just about everything in their house comes with a story. In 2018, they were on the hunt for a vintage radio. After a little digging, they found one tucked away in the back of a dusty antique store in Columbia, SC. As Becca's dad helped load it up into the back of his truck, he noticed something. It was an Admiral Radio.
It didn't mean much at the time, but it turns out that there was a family connection. "My dad used to work for Admiral," her dad said. They immediately felt an unlikely connection to the radio and began doing some research on it. Little did they know, it would become their band name about a year later when they began playing music.
