Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, was born 107 years ago today. From 1934 to 1953, Autry appeared in 93 films and 91 episodes of The Gene Autry Show television series. During the 1930s and 1940s, he personified the straight-shooting hero — honest, brave and true — and profoundly touched the lives of millions of Americans. Autry was also one of the most important figures in the history of country music, considered the second major influential artist of the genres development after Jimmie Rodgers. His singing cowboy movies were the first vehicle to carry country music to a national audience. In addition to his signature song, Back in the Saddle Again,” Autry is still remembered for his Christmas holiday songs, Here Comes Santa Claus,” which he wrote, Frosty the Snowman” and his biggest hit, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Autry was also owner of a television station, several radio stations in Southern California, and the Los Angeles and California Angels Major League Baseball team from 1961 to 1997. Autry is a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and is the only person to be awarded stars in all five categories on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for film, television, music, radio and live performance. The town of Gene Autry, Oklahoma was named in his honor. Included for many years on Forbes magazines list of the 400 richest Americans, Autry slipped to their near miss category in 1995 with an estimated net worth of $320 million. Gene Autry died of lymphoma three days after his 91st birthday at his home in Studio City, California. His death on October 2, 1998 came fewer than three months after the death of another celebrated cowboy of the silver screen, radio and TV — Roy Rogers. Here, Autry performs “Back in the Saddle Again” in 1960 on the Ozark Jubilee.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 04:02:05 +0000
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