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Talmadge " Tab" Smith (January 11, 1909 – August 17, 1971) was an American swing and rhythm and blues alto saxophonist. He is best remembered for the tracks "Because of You" and "Pretend". He worked with Count Basie, the Mills Rhythm Boys and Lucky Millinder.
His biggest R&B hit record was "Because of You" (1940), which reached number 1 on the United States Billboard R&B record chart, and number 20 on the pop chart, in 1951. "Because of You" was recorded for United Records, a record label for which Smith was a prolific artist until it closed in 1957. Tab Smith cut 24 singles and a 10-inch album for the label. On his United sides, Smith sometimes played tenor saxophone.
During the 1950s, Smith was a significant rival to alto saxophone-playing bandleader Earl Bostic, who recorded for King. He was also in competition with his own formative influence, Johnny Hodges, until Hodges returned to the Duke Ellington band in 1955.
His career never recovered from the closure of United Records. After brief stays at Checker Records and King, Smith retired from the music business in the early 1960s. He sold real estate and played piano part-time in a steakhouse.
He died in St. Louis, Missouri, in August 1971, aged 62.
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