Tex Ritter (1905-1974)

 

Born as Maurice Woodward Ritter on Jan. 12,1905 on a farm near Murvaul in East Texas, he was the youngest of 6 children.

He later attended the University of Texas in Austin as a pre-law major, where is interest in cowboy songs grew. His glee club experience in school pushed his interest in a career in show business and he began singing western songs on radio in Houston during the late 1920's.

 

Not long after, Tex moved to New York City, where he won a prominent role in the 1931 play "Green Grow The Lilacs". He also toured east coast colleges giving lecture-recitals on western heritage and cowboy songs.

He began recording in 1932, and starred in the Madison Square Garden rodeo, and on New York radio stations WOR and WHN (home to the WHN Barn Dance).

 

In 1936, Tex headed fo Hollywood where singing cowboy films were becoming popular. Along with his faithful horse White Flash, Tex made dozens of movies. Though he never reached the stardom of Gene Autry and Roy Rogers, Tex still was a popular figure and sold plenty of tickets. His performance of the title song to the 1952 Gary Cooper western "High Noon" stands as a classic in film history.

 

Tex signed with Captiol Records, the year of it's inception in 1942, making him a major player in the country market. His hit's include "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle", "Rye Whiskey", "You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often" and Jealous Heart".

 

In the early 1950's, Tex became involved in television and became host of Town Hall Party, which aired over KTTV in Los Angeles and the Western Ranch Party, a syndicated show.

 

From 1963-1965, Tex served as president of the newly formed Country Music Association, and moved to Nashville to join the Grand Old Opry. He was instrumental in helping the drive to build the old Country Music Hall Of Fame Building, which opened in 1967. He was also an able spokesman for country music, convincing broadcasters and advertisers to program country music, thereby enlarging it's audience.

 

To top off his many life long achievements, Tex made an unsuccessful bid in 1970 for a US Senate seat.

 

Tex Ritter died on Jan. 2, 1974

He was elected into the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1964.