Gene Autry

Orvon Gene Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998) was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television.

Autry, the grandson of a Methodist preacher, was born near Tioga, Texas. His parents, Delbert Autry and Elnora Ozmont, moved to Ravia, Oklahoma in the 1920s. After leaving high school in 1925, Autry worked as a telegrapher for the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway.

Recordings and early radio

An amateur talent with the guitar and voice led to his performing at local dances. After an encouraging chance encounter with Will Rogers, he began performing on local radio in 1928 as "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy".

He signed a recording deal with Columbia Records in 1929. He worked in Chicago, Illinois, on the WLS (AM) radio show National Barn Dance for four years with his own show where he met singer/songwriter Smiley Burnette. In his early recording career Autry covered various genres, including a labor song, "The Death of Mother Jones" in 1931.

Autry also recorded many "hillbilly" style records in 1930 and 1931 in New York City which were certainly different in style and content than his later recordings. These much closer in style to the Prairie Ramblers or Dick Justice, and included the "Do Right Daddy Blues" and "Black Bottom Blues", both of which contain substantial similarity to "Deep Elem Blues". These late prohibition era songs deal with bootlegging, corrupt police, and women whose occupation is certainly vice. These recording are generally not heard today, but are available on European import labels such as JSP Records.

But his first hit was in 1932 with That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine, a duet with fellow railroad man, Jimmy Long. Autry also sang the classic Ray Whitley hit "Back in the Saddle Again", as well as many Christmas songs including "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", his own composition "Here Comes Santa Claus", "Frosty the Snowman" and probably his biggest hit ever, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

Autry also owned the Challenge Records label. The label's biggest hit was "Tequila" by The Champs in 1958, which started the rock and roll instrumental craze of the late 1950s and early 1960s.
                                                                  


                                                                          




                                                                               Home  
                   
                                                                  Ambridge Music © 2004-2010  All Rights Reserved

Welcome
About Us
His Life
Biography
Discography
Filmography
Achievements
His Music
Redd's Songs
Videos
Memories
Family Reflections
Photo Gallery
CD Reviews
The Store
Links
TN Waltz (Albums)
Special Thanks
Newsletters
Archives
Golden West Cowboys
Contact Us 

Friends of Redd
Pee Wee King
Patti Page
Ernest Tubb
Hank Williams
Jett Williams
Minnie Pearl
Grandpa Jones
Roy Acuff
Gene Autry
Jimmy Dickens

A Note From Billy


  Redd's
 YouTube Videos