Gene Autry

Orvon Grover "Gene" Autry (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998), known as the Singing Cowboy, was a multifaceted American actor, musician, singer, composer, rodeo performer, and baseball team owner. Born near Tioga, Texas, and growing up in Ravia, Oklahoma, he worked on his family's ranch and later became a telegrapher for the St. Louis–San Francisco Railway after leaving home in 1925. Autry honed his singing and guitar skills during his midnight shifts, leading to a significant turning point when humorist Will Rogers encouraged him to pursue a professional singing career.

Following this encouragement, Autry traveled to New York in 1928 to audition for the Victor Talking Machine Company. Though initially turned down due to business reasons rather than talent, he left with a letter of introduction and advice to gain more experience. He began performing as "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy" on a Tulsa radio station, leading to a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1929. He worked on the WLS-AM radio show National Barn Dance for four years, making significant connections in the industry, including with singer-songwriter Smiley Burnette.

Autry's early recordings spanned various genres, including labor songs and "hillbilly" style tracks. His first hit emerged in 1932 with "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine," co-written with Jimmy Long. As his film career grew, so did his record sales, culminating in more than 640 recordings, over 300 of which he wrote or co-wrote. His unofficial theme song became "Back in the Saddle Again," and his records have sold over 100 million copies, marking him as a prominent figure in American music history with numerous gold and platinum records.

Gene Autry is particularly associated with Christmas music, with perennial favorites such as "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town," "Here Comes Santa Claus," "Frosty the Snowman," and his biggest hit, "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." He wrote "Here Comes Santa Claus" following his role as Grand Marshal of the 1946 Santa Claus Lane Parade, drawing inspiration from the crowd's excitement. He recorded the song in 1947, solidifying its classic status.

In the late 1950s, Autry expanded his influence in the music industry by founding Challenge Records, where he recorded other artists. The label achieved success with "Tequila" by The Champs, which ignited the rock and roll instrumental craze. He later sold the label, but it remained known for its distinctive maroon (later green) label featuring "GA" in a shield. Autry’s diverse contributions to entertainment have left a lasting legacy in American culture.

Autry and Burnette were discovered by Nat Levine in 1934, making their debut in "In Old Santa Fe" as a singing cowboy quartet. Autry starred in the 12-part serial "The Phantom Empire" in 1935 and, with the absorption of Mascot by Republic Pictures, he made 44 films by 1940, primarily low-budget Westerns featuring his horse Champion and sidekick Burnette. Autry's films garnered immense success, prompting other studios to produce their own singing cowboy movies. By 1940, he was Republic’s top star with increasingly elaborate and expensive films.

In the Motion Picture Herald's Money-Making Western Stars poll, Autry ranked each year from 1936 to 1954, holding first place from 1937 to 1942 and second place afterward. He also appeared in the Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll of all films from 1940 to 1942. Autry launched his Gene Autry Flying "A" Ranch Rodeo show in 1940.

During World War II, Autry served in the U.S. Army Air Corps, broadcasting a radio show and facing competition from the promotion of Roy Rogers as "King of the Cowboys" during his absence. Republic reissued Autry’s films to maintain his public presence. After the war, the courts ruled in favor of Republic, leading to his return and the completion of his contract, where he was branded as the "King of the Singing Cowboys."

In 1947, Autry transitioned to Columbia Pictures, where he established his own production unit. His longtime sidekick Burnette was busy with other projects, so Autry partnered with Pat Buttram, who co-starred in over 40 films and 100 episodes of Autry’s television show. Autry created Flying A Productions in 1951 to have more control over his projects. Columbia distributed Autry's films through 1953 and later reissued them.

From 1940 to 1956, Autry hosted "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch" on CBS Radio, alongside radio and television series featuring Champion. He developed the Cowboy Code, emphasizing ethics and patriotism, which appealed to youth organizations. The Cowboy Code included principles such as honesty, respect for others, and a duty to help those in distress.

Starting in 1950, Autry produced and starred in his television show on CBS. He was actively involved during World War II, becoming a tech sergeant and later a flight officer, participating in dangerous operations over the Himalayas.

Autry retired from show business in 1964 after a prolific career, including nearly 100 films and over 600 records. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969 and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. Post-retirement, he invested in real estate and media ventures, including ownership of a TV station in Phoenix that produced local children's programming.

Following the financial troubles of Republic Pictures, Autry acquired the rights to his films, enabling him to control their distribution for home release. Gene Autry passed away on October 2, 1998, from lymphoma at his home in Studio City, California. He was interred at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills Cemetery, with an epitaph honoring him as "America's Favorite Cowboy" and recognizing his multifaceted contributions as a philanthropist, veteran, and media entrepreneur.