Gene Autry
Induction Year: 1970
Birth Name: Orvon Gene Autry
Birth Date: September 29, 1907
Place of Birth: Tioga, TX
Deceased: October 02, 1998
Place of Death: Studio City, CA
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Biography
One night in 1926 Autry was strumming the guitar and singing to pass the time at his telegraph operator job. A man came in to send a telegram and asked him to keep singing. The man told him he thought he had talent and that he should get a job on the radio. The "man" turned out to be Will Rogers. Autry soon quit his job and headed to New York.
Former Occupations: | Education: |
Discography / Career Highlights
Career Milestones:
1927 - Went to New York City to audition for Victor Records
1928 - Performed on nightly radio show as Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy (KVOO-Tulsa)
1929 - Returned to New York City where he cut his first record for Victor and went on to sign recording contract with American Record Corporaion ( a division of Columbia)
1929 - first recording session under new contract in December early 1930s - performed in "Gene Autry Program" on radio (sponsored by Sears)
1931 - became regular on the WLS National Barn Dance (carried by NBC)
1932 - first major hit record "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine"
1933 - first gold record ever awarded for "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine"
1934 - went to Hollywood to break into film business
1934 - feature film debut in "In Old Santa Fe"
1935 - moved to California permanently
1935 - filmed "Tumbling Tumbleweeds"; first western plotted and sold around the main character's ability to sing
1940 - started performing on radio show "The Melody Ranch"; heard weekly over the CBS Radio Network until 1956
1940 - broke all previous attendance records when he made his first appearance as star of the Gene Autry Flying A Ranch Rodeo at Madison Square Garden
1942 - "Be Honest With Me" nominated for the Best Song Oscar from the 1941 film "Ridin' On a Rainbow"
1943 - recorded "There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere," "Home on the Range" and "When the Lights Go On Again" for the War Department
1947 - release of "The Last Roundup" (first film made under Gene Autry Productions, released by Columbia)
1949 - had first top pop hit "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"; this was the first record ever to go platinum and one of the top selling singles of all time
1950 - television debut on CBS-TV on July 23 on "The Gene Autry Show"
1950 - signed recording contract with Columbia Records
1952 - formed Golden West Broadcasters, owner of numerous radio stations
1953 - last released feature film "Last of the Pony Riders"
1964 - made last record; retired from show business
1978 - wrote autobiography (with Mickey Herskowitz) "Back in the Saddle Again"
1987 - appeared as host on The Nashville Network's "Melody Ranch Theatre" on April 6, introducing 65 of his over 90 western films; hosted with his old sidekick Pat Buttram
1993 - film "Sleepless in Seattle" features "Back in the Saddle Again" as part of its soundtrack
Awards:
1937-1942, 1946-1953 - voted #1 western star by the Motion Picture Herald Exhibitors Poll\top poll of the time period
1955 - TV Radio Mirror Awards Poll\Favorite Western Star on Radio 1954-1955
1969 - Country Music Hall of Fame induction
1973 - CMA\Pioneer Award\in recognition of contributions to films and music since the early thirties
1976 - ASCAP\Outstanding Country Song\Back in the Saddle Again\for publisher and composer
1976 - SESAC\Award for Ambassador of Country Music
1980 - National Broadcasters Hall of Fame induction
1981 - American Indian and Cowboy Artists Society\Man of the West Award
1983 - California Country Music Hall of Fame induction
1985 - Songwriters Guild\Lifetime Achievement Award
1985 - Grammy\Hall of Fame Award\Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
1987 - Publicists Guild of America\Special Award of Merit\in recognition of a long and distinguished career in all phases of the entertainment industry
1989 - American Classic Award (ASCAP)\first award presented for original songs
1989 - NARAS\President's Merit Award\presented for Autry's achievements in radio, recording, film, television, and live performance
1989 - ASCAP\special award
1991 - Songwriters Hall of Fame\Lifetime Achievement Award
1997 - Grammy\Hall of Fame Award\Back in the Saddle Again
Catalog Highlights:
"Back in the Saddle Again" - Co-writer:Ray Whitley - Artists: Gene Autry (1939)
"Be Honest With Me" - Co-writer: Fred Rose - Artists: Gene Autry (1940)
"That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine" - Co-writer: Jimmy Long - Artists: Gene Autry with Jimmy Long (1931), Slim Whitman
"You're the Only Star in My Blue Heaven" - Artists: Gene Autry (1935)
"Sing Me a Song of the Saddle" - Co-writer: Frank Harford - Artists: Gene Autry (1937)
"Dust" - Co-writer: Johnny Marvin - Artists: Gene Autry (1937)
"As Long As I've Got My Horse" - Co-writer: Johnny Marvin, Fred Rose - Artists: Gene Autry (1938)
"The Old Trail" - Co-writer: Johnny Marvin, Fred Rose - Artists: Gene Autry (1938)
"Old November Moon" - Co-writer: Johnny Marvin - Artists: Gene Autry (1939)
"I Just Want You" - Co-writer: Johnny Marvin, Fred Rose - Artists: Gene Autry (1939)
"Blue Montana Skies" - Co-writer: Johnny Marvin, Fred Rose - Artists: Gene Autry (1939)
"I Don't Belong in Your World" - Co-writer: Fred Rose - Artists: Gene Autry (1939)
"Little Old Band of Gold" - Co-writer: C. Newman, F. Glickman - Artists: Gene Autry
"Goodbye Little Darling Goodbye" - Co-writer: Johnny Marvin
"There'll Never Be Another Pal Like You" - Co-writer: Johnny Marvin, Tobias - Artists: Gene Autry
"That Little Kid Sister of Mine" - Co-writer: Fred Rose - Artists: Gene Autry
"Good Old-Fashioned Hoedown" - Co-writer: Lee Penney - Artists: Gene Autry (1939)
"Under Fiesta Stars" - Co-writer: Fred Rose - Artists: Gene Autry (1939)
"Lonely River" - Co-writer: Ray Whitley - Artists: Gene Autry (1939)
"Keep Rollin', Lazy Longhorns" - Co-writer: Johnny Marvin - Artists: Gene Autry
"I Hang My Head and Cry" - Co-writer: Fred Rose, Ray Whitley - Artists: Gene Autry
"Tweedle O'Twill" - Co-writer: Fred Rose - Artists: Gene Autry
"At Mail Call Today" - Co-writer: Fred Rose - Artists: Gene Autry
"Silver Spurs" - Co-writer: Cindy Walker - Artists: Gene Autry
"I Wish I Had Never Met Sunshine" - Co-writer: Dale Evans, Oakley Haldeman - Artists: Gene Autry
"Here Comes Santa Claus" - Co-writer: Oakley Haldeman - Artists: Gene Autry, Bing Crosby, Doris Day, The Andrews Sisters
"Pretty Mary" - Co-writer: Oakley Haldeman, Mitchell, McDonald - Artists: Gene Autry
"A Voice in the Choir" - Co-writer: Michael Carr - Artists: Gene Autry
"Dixie Cannonball" - Co-writer: Red Foley, Vaughn Horton - Artists: Gene Autry
Comments:
Only entertainer with 5 stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame (motion pictures, radio, music recording, television, live theater)
In 1960, Autry invested in the California Angels baseball franchise