Tex Williams

Birth Name:

Sollie Paul Williams

Birth Date:

August 23, 1917

Birth Place:

Ramsey, Illinois

Death Date:

October 11, 1985

Place of Death:

Newhall Community Hospital, Newhall, California

Age:

Cause of Death:

Pancreatic cancer

Cemetery Name:

Eternal Valley Memorial Park

Claim to Fame:

Music

Tex Williams was an American country music singer, songwriter, bandleader and occasional film actor. He is best known for his 1949 hit "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)," which became a major crossover success. Tex Williams, along with Spade Cooley and Bob Wills, was among the most popular bandleaders in the musical genre known as "western swing" in the 1940s and 1950s. Williams began his career in music in the late 1930s, playing in local bands. After serving in World War II, he joined the Spade Cooley Orchestra, where he gained considerable recognition. He later formed his own band, Tex Williams and His Western Caravan, which helped establish his career. In the 1950s, Williams moved to Los Angeles, where he continued to record and perform. Williams' other successes included the cover of a Bob Wills' classic, 'That's What I Like About The West', and also 'Never Trust A Woman', 'Don't Telephone, Don't Telegraph, Tell A Woman', 'Suspicion' and 'Talking Boogie'. Tex's band was a frequent guest on numerous radio and TV programs in the 1950s, including the Grand Ole Opry, Spike Jones, Dinah Shore, the Jo Stafford Show and National Barn Dance. His band split up in 1965 because, as he said, he 'had no use for a band. When you have a band, you have to keep those guys working.' He continued to perform and record throughout his life, although his fame was mostly rooted in his earlier work. Tex's constant smoke, smoke, smoke of cigarettes finally caught up with him, and he died of lung and pancreatic cancer in 1985.

Fun Fact

While in Washington, Williams met country singing star Tex Ritter, father of comedian-actor John Ritter, and appeared alongside the cowboy in a movie called ‘Rollin’ Home to Texas.’ The movie launched him on a film career that lasted more than 20 years, from the 1930s through the 1950s.

In April 1956 Williams appeared on the Chrysler-sponsored CBS TV broadcast ‘Shower of Stars’. His 1963 album, Tex Williams In Las Vegas, was recorded at the Mint Club in 1963, featuring Glen Campbell and produced by one of Buddy Holly’s Crickets, Tommy Allsup. His subsequent singles included ‘Too Many Tigers’, ‘Bottom Of The Mountain’, ‘The Night Miss Nancy Ann’s Hotel For Single Girls Burned Down’.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Eternal Valley Memorial Park

23287 Sierra Highway

Newhall, California, 91321

United States

North America

Map:

Map of Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall, California

Grave Location:

Zane Grey Garden, Plot L-139C

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery take an immediate hard right and follow the road just past the mausoleum on the right. On the right hand side you will see a section called Zane Grey that is surrounded by a large hedge. Enter the section and walk to the far corner of the hedge closest to the road and 1 row from the hedge and 3 memorials from the corner look for the oversized flat monument to minor country and western singer, songwriter and performer Tex Williams.