Tex Williams

Sollie Paul "Tex" Williams, an American musician of great renown, was born on August 23, 1917. He is widely recognized for his distinctive contributions to the genre of Western swing, specifically his innovative approach to the talking blues style. Among his numerous notable achievements, one of his most iconic and enduring hits was the catchy novelty song, "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)". This chart-topping single held the number one position on the Billboard chart for a remarkable sixteen weeks in 1947, a testament to its enduring popularity. Additionally, "Smoke" ranked as the No. 5 song on Billboard's Top 100 list for 1947, and it held the top spot on the country chart for the same year. This memorable tune has continued to resonate with audiences, and it was even featured during the opening credits of the 2006 film, Thank You for Smoking.