Featured Pipe Smoker: Tex Ritter

Maurice Woodward "Tex" Ritter (1905-1974)

Tex Ritter was probably famous enough that I don't have to say much about him. He was born in the small east Texas town of Murvaul and became famous as a cowboy singer, later becoming a radio actor and eventually a movie actor. He was the first artist ever to sign with the newly-formed Capitol Records in 1942, and had his own television music series in the late 50's and early 60's. In 1970, he entered the Republican primary for U.S. Senate (Tennessee) but was defeated. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and posthumously into the Western Performers Hall of Fame. He was also the father of the late actor John Ritter.