Orvin Gene Autry, was born Sept. 29, 1907, near Tioga, Texas. The eldest of
four children of Delbert Autry, a poor tenant farmer, who moved his family many
times over the years, before eventually arriving at Ravia, Oklahoma. His
grandfather, a Baptist minister, taught him to sing when he was a child so that
he could perform in his church choir and at other local events. Autry also
learned to ride at an early age and worked the fields with his father. He grew
up listening to cowboy songs and received his first guitar at the age of 12
(initially he studied the saxophone but chose the guitar so that he could sing
as well). He graduated from school in 1924 and found work as a telegraph
operator for the Frisco Railroad in Chelsea, Oklahoma. He used to take his
guitar to work and one night his singing was heard by the famous entertainer
Will Rogers, who stopped to send a telegram. He suggested that Autry should look
for a job in radio. After trying unsuccessfully to find work in New York, he
returned to Oklahoma and began to appear on KVOO Tulsa as The Oklahoma Yodeling
Cowboy. In 1929, he made his first RCA recordings, "My Dreaming Of You" and "My
Alabama Home". In 1931, he became a featured artist on the National Barn Dance,
as well as having his own Conqueror Record Time.
Late in 1931, he recorded "That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine". The song
eventually became Autry's first million-selling record. By 1934, he was well
known as a radio and recording personality. Having for some time been portrayed
as a singing cowboy by the publicity departments of his record companies, he now
took his first steps to make the publicity come true. He was given a small part
in the Ken Maynard film In Old Santa Fe, and soon afterwards starred in a
strange 12-episode western/science fiction serial called The Phantom Empire. In
1935, Republic Pictures signed him to a contract and Tumbling Tumbleweeds became
his first starring western film. His previous singing cowboy image was now
reality. Further films followed in quick succession and by 1940 Autry ranked
fourth among all Hollywood money-making stars at the box office. In January
1940, Gene Autry's Melody Ranch radio show, first appeared on CBS Records, and
soon became a national institution, running until 1956.
Quite apart from the radio shows and films, he toured extensively with his
stage show. It featured roping, Indian dancers, comedy, music, fancy riding from
Autry, and smart horse tricks by Champion. By 1941, he was respected and famous
all over the USA The little town of Berwyn, Oklahoma, even changed its name to
Gene Autry, Oklahoma. His songs such as "Be Honest With Me", "Back In The Saddle
Again" (which became his signature tune), "You're The Only Star In My Blue
Heaven", "Goodbye, Little Darlin' Goodbye" and many more, became tremendously
popular. In 1942, his income took a severe cut when he enlisted in the Air
Force, being sworn in live on a Melody Ranch program. During this period, he
co-wrote with Fred Rose his classic song "At Mail Call Today". After his release
from the services, he resumed his acting and recording career. Between 1944 and
1951, he registered 25 successive Top 10 country hits, including "Here Comes
Santa Claus", "Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer", "Peter Cottontail" and "Frosty
The Snow Man", each of which sold 1 million copies. He also had six US Top 10
pop chart success in the same period. He left Republic in 1947 and formed his
own Flying A Productions, which produced his later films for release by Columbia
Pictures. When he made his last B-movie western, Last Of The Pony Riders, in
1953, he had 89 feature films to his credit.
During the 50s, he became very successful in business and purchased many
radio and television stations. Between 1950 and 1956, he produced 91 episodes
of The Gene Autry Show for CBS-TV. His company also produced many other
television series, including The Range Riders, The Adventures of Champion and
Annie Oakley. His business interest became even more involved during the 60s,
when apart from owning various radio and television companies, he became the
owner of the California Angels major league baseball team. Melody Ranch
reappeared as a television program in the 60s and ran for seven years on Autry's
KTLA station, and was syndicated to stations across the country. In 1986,
Nashville Network decided to screen his Republic and Columbia B-movie westerns
under the title of Melody Ranch Theatre with Autry himself doing opening and
closing announcements.
Autry sold the final 10 acres of his Melody Ranch film set in 1991. The
ranch, in Placerita Canyon, California, which was used for the making of such
classic westerns as High Noon and the television series Gunsmoke, is scheduled
to become a historical feature.
Gene Autry died Oct. 2, 1998.
Gene Autry was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969. He was also inducted
into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1980.