The singer and guitarist caught his first big break after moving to Los Angeles in 1942. At the time, California was populated by many former Texans and Oklahomans working in the defense industry, creating a need for western swing entertainment in a region not noted for country music.

One of the musicians on this circuit was fiddler Spade Cooley, who employed Jack Williams as his singer, nicknaming him “Tex” to ensure easy identification by the many Texans in their audiences. Several of Cooley’s mid-forties Columbia singles featured Tex on vocals.

(After a fall-out with Spade Cooley, Williams went on his own, forming a western swing band of his own patterned after his former employer. Williams’ biggest hit came right after World War II: “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette.” – Dusty Owens, TCM Radio News)

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