Gene Autry

Biography

Orvon Gene Autry, born on September 29, 1907, near Tioga, Texas, to Delbert and Elnora Ozmont Autry, grew up on tenant farms and later homesteads in Oklahoma, including Achille and Ravia. As a teenager, he worked for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railway as a baggage hauler and telegrapher, receiving free telegraphy lessons in exchange. While singing and playing guitar late one night at a Chelsea, Oklahoma station, he was heard by humorist Will Rogers, who encouraged him to pursue performing. In 1928, Autry joined KVOO Radio in Tulsa as 'Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy,' co-writing his first hit 'That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine' in 1929, which became the first million-selling gold record.[1][2][3]

Autry's career exploded in the 1930s with his Hollywood debut in 1934's 'In Old Santa Fe' alongside Ken Maynard, leading to 93 musical Western films by 1953, often featuring his horse Champion, establishing him as the 'Singing Cowboy' and 'America's Favorite Cowboy.' He signed with Republic Pictures, starred in radio's 'National Barn Dance' and 'Melody Ranch,' and released 635 recordings, including hits like 'Back in the Saddle Again,' 'Tumbling Tumbleweeds,' 'Here Comes Santa Claus,' 'You Are My Sunshine,' and 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,' which sold over 25 million copies. Serving as a flight officer in the Army Air Corps during World War II, he later transitioned to television with 'The Gene Autry Show' (1950-1955) and produced series like 'Annie Oakley.'[2][3][4][5]

Post-retirement in 1960 to Melody Ranch, Autry built Autry Enterprises, managing real estate, oil, media, theaters, recording firms, the California Angels baseball team, and the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum. He earned five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for radio, records, film, TV, and live performance, dying on October 2, 1998, in Studio City, California, from lymphoma.[1][3][4][5]

Fun Facts

• Autry's 'That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine' (1932) was the first record ever certified gold for a million sales.[1][2][3]
• 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' sold over 25 million copies, making it one of the bestselling singles ever.[1]
• He was the only entertainer with five Hollywood Walk of Fame stars: for radio, records, movies, TV, and live theatrical/rodeo.[5]
• Autry owned the California Angels MLB team and produced TV Westerns like 'Annie Oakley' and 'The Adventures of Champion'.[1][5]

Associated Acts

• Gene Autry Trio - eponymous

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Will Rogers - Humorist who discovered Autry singing at a telegraph station and encouraged him to pursue music and Hollywood (Inspired move to radio and recordings starting 1928) [1920s]

Key Collaborators

• Ken Maynard - Co-starred in film debut ('In Old Santa Fe' (1934)) [1934]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) - 1947 Version (Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer And Other Christmas Classics)
2. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer And Other Christmas Classics)
3. Frosty the Snowman (with The Cass County Boys) - 78rpm Version (Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer And Other Christmas Classics)
4. Up On The House Top (Ho Ho Ho) (with Carl Cotner's Orchestra) (Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer And Other Christmas Classics)
5. Home On the Range
6. Frosty the Snowman (His Christmas Album)
7. Up On The House Top (The Original: Gene Autry Sings Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer & Other Christmas Favorites)
8. Back In the Saddle Again
9. Deep In the Heart of Texas
10. Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) - 1947 Version

External Links

• Spotify
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #christmas-music, #country, #country-yodeling