Gene Autry
Gene Autry, born Orvon Grover Autry on September 29, 1907, in Tioga, Texas, was an iconic American actor, musician, singer, composer, rodeo performer, and baseball team owner. Known as "The Singing Cowboy," Autry became a pioneering figure in country music and a beloved Hollywood star. He grew up in Texas and Oklahoma, working on his father's ranch and later as a telegraph operator, where he began singing to pass the time.
Autry's career took off after he was discovered by humorist Will Rogers and began performing as "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy" on KVOO in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1929 and gained national popularity through the "National Barn Dance" radio program in Chicago. His film debut came in 1934, and he starred in 93 motion pictures until 1953, often appearing with his horse Champion and sidekick Smiley Burnette. Autry's signature song "Back in the Saddle Again" and holiday classics like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" cemented his legacy in music.
During World War II, Autry served in the U.S. Army Air Forces. Post-war, he continued his entertainment career and expanded his business ventures, owning hotels, oil wells, broadcasting stations, and the Los Angeles Angels baseball team. He was honored with stars in all five categories on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is a member of both the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Gene Autry passed away on October 2, 1998, in Studio City, California, leaving behind a rich legacy in American culture.
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