Tex Williams

TEX WILLIAMS
 
 
Tex Williams  (born Sollie Paul Williams; August 23, 1917 – October 11, 1985) was an American Western swing musician from Ramsey, Illinois.  He is best known for his talking blues style; his biggest hit was the novelty song, "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)", which held the number one position on the Billboard charts for six weeks in 1947.  "Smoke" was the No. 5 song on Billboard's Top 100 list for 1947, and was No. 1 on the country chart that year.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 

Speaking of true oldies, there is also another great 1947 hit song by Tex Williams (co-written by Merle Travis) called "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (that Cigarette)".  The chorus goes:  "Smoke, smoke, smoke that cigarette / Puff, puff, puff, and if you smoke yourself to death / Tell St. Peter at the Golden Gate / That you hate to make him wait / But you just gotta have another cigarette."   Phil Harris – best known for his comedic talents and voiceover work these days, if at all – also had a hit with the song in 1947. 

 

(March 2013)

 

Last edited: March 22, 2021