Thomas Elmer Duncan, known as Tommy Duncan, born January 11, 1911, in Whitney, Texas, was an American Western swing singer-songwriter. He began his musical career as a street musician in Fort Worth and joined the Light Crust Doughboys in 1932, where he met Bob Wills. He became a founding member of The Texas Playboys, contributing versatile vocals. As a lyricist, he contributed to "New San Antonio Rose" (1940), which sold three million copies for Columbia Records. During World War II, he volunteered for the military but received a medical discharge, rejoining Wills in 1944. Together, they recorded hits like "Bubbles in My Beer". In 1948, he left The Texas Playboys to form Tommy Duncan and His Western All Stars. He recorded the hit "Gamblin' Polka Dot Blues" (1949), which peaked at number 8 on the country charts. He later reunited with Wills from 1959 to 1961, but performed solo until his death on July 25, 1967. As a member of The Texas Playboys, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. His notable posthumous albums include Texas Moon (1996) and Beneath a Neon Star in a Honky Tonk (1996).
