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"Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)" and a series of Hollywood western movies set veteran artiste
Tex Williams firmly on the pathway of fame. During a recent interview with CMP columnist Bob
Powel, Tex gave insight into some of the highlights, and events, in a multi-faceted career.
THIRTY YEARS ON-AND TEX STILL

SWINGS _WITH WESTERN SOUNDS

parries came to expect large sales from
, their artistes. "My producer, Mr. Lee
'" Gilette informed me that he was going
to · have to let me go from the label.
My first record only sold 200,000 and
the second only around 190,000. He
said 'that's not enough, you are the
only big band on the label' ". In those
days records were cut with a three or
four piece band or even with just a
guitar, so a 14-piece band like Western
Caravan made a much bigger dent in
Capitol's recording budget than· fellow
Capitol artistes like Tex Ritter and
Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Tex Williams takes up the story: "I
went out scrounging for hit material.
Of course at that time everything that
Merle Travis was writing was success-
ful, he was having hit after hit. I asked
Merle if he had something. He said 'I
have something partially finished, you
wouldn't like it, it's probably no good'.
It turned out to be 'Smoke, Smoke,
Smoke (That Cigarette)'. I finished part
EX WILLIAMS must just about be came to meet Spade. '.'This was through of it, and put the melody, such as it is,
T the only Country singer who makes another band several years before Spade behind it". The fast moving monologue
Bryan Chalker sound like a soprano. organised his outfit. I was working sold well over a million records, and
On the 23rd of this month Tex enters with a g.roup who were called The topped the American pop charts in
his sixtieth year, and yet he is still a Rhythm Rangers and we came into late 1947.
very busy performer, and unlike many Hollywood to do a picture with Tex The Wes tern Caravan lasted for
veterans his voice has lost none of Ritter, and at that time Spade was around a dozen years until 1956, but
its quality o.r richness. Although stand in for Roy Rogers. He also as Tex pointed out to me, the whole
regarded as a West Coast artiste, he played fiddle with various bands idea of a large group was made
does not come from that part of the around the Hollywood-Los Angeles redundant with the increase of elec-
world, nor from Texas for that matter, area. trical amplification. With amps and
in spite of his name. Tex hails from the "I met him then, and in 1942 Spade speakers you didn't need 14 pieces to
rural part of the State that has Chicago started organising the big western swing reach the far corner of a dance hall.
as its largest city-Illinois-and he band. A kid by the name of C. Hosneir Anyway tastes were changing. I asked
received his first truly professional and I were charter members, and we Tex if the demise of the Western
experience at a radio station in nearby helped put the band together, and I Caravan was a sudden thing. "Actually
Decatur. However, it was not long did his vocals for about four years". it came gradually, times were changing
before he made the long journey west, Tex Williams is in no doubt of the and we started cutting down. It didn't
in the hope of getting into the singing . contribution played by his former band warrant 14 pieces, we'd go to 10, ,then
field, and possessing a secret desire to leader. "Spade really had a lot to do nine, then to seven, and pretty soon
make it into western movies. Something with widening the scope of Country we had a five piece group".
he achieved in spite of the obvious Music". Tex's voice can be heard on During the life of the Western
handicap of a slight limp, a result of the now rare Spade Cooley U.S. Caravan Tex appeared in a number of
polio when he was very young. Columbia records, and they are some films, including 24 of his own for the
When you think of western swing of the finest western swing music ever huge film company Universal Inter-
(and more and more people a.re doing put down on a 78 disc. national. He starred in three complete
that these days), then the name of Bob In 1946 Tex departed the security of series of eight episodes each in the
Wills automatically springs to mind. the Spade Cooley band to form his years 1949,- 1950 and 1951. "They
After that must come Spade Cooley; own g.roup "The Western Caravan", were small budget westerns, and I
the tragic person, who for many year~ and he was well aware of the risk he enjoyed it for this reason. I never
was second only to Wills in the western as taking "It had to be a gamble" he thought I would have the chance to
swing stakes, · but who ended his life said, "but I already had the contract star in pictures. It was a great experi-
in prison after he murdered his wife. promised and offered by Capitol ence, and it was the hardest work I've
Cooley died a few years ago, two Records and, of course, with Spade ever done. You would go out there on
months before he was due for release. being on Columbia it was just a must I the set, usually on location when the
In the early days one of the important- had to make the break, and try it on sun isn't up yet, and they'd hit you
features of the Cooley band was the my own". in the face with that cold sponge· for
bass baritone voice of Tex Williams. In the days before albums and EPs, make-up, and you were there sometimes
When Tex was over last year he 78s were - of course - huge sellers, until ten o'clock at night on a long
appeared on my programme "London selling in much larger quantities than day. It is tough work".
Country", and I asked him · how he they do now, and the reco.rding com- Continued on page 33
18 AUGUST 1977