DEAN MARTIN

Big things were predicted for Blue Smoke when the Sam Fox Publishing Company started plugging the song in the United States in December 1951.   That same year New York music trade magazines described

Blue Smoke as one of the major hits of the year, a 'musical jackpot' with jukebox and radio listeners. 

 

 Versions had already been 'waxed' by Leslie Howard, Dean Martin, Al Morgan and Teddy Phillips.

 Dean Martin liked it so much he not only covered it, but telephoned songwriter, Ruru Karaitiana, from

Los Angeles asking if he had any more songs. Karaitiana thought it was a prank call.