Gene Austin
Gene Austin, born Lemeul Eugene Lucas on June 24, 1900, in Gainesville, Texas, was an influential American singer and songwriter, recognized as one of the first "crooners." He grew up in Minden, Louisiana, where he learned to play piano and guitar. After running away from home at 15, Austin joined the U.S. Army, serving in both the Pancho Villa Expedition and World War I.
Following his military service, Austin settled in Baltimore, Maryland, where he briefly studied dentistry and law before pursuing a career in music. He began performing in local taverns and vaudeville, eventually forming a successful songwriting partnership with Roy Bergere. Austin's early compositions, such as "How Come You Do Me Like You Do?" and "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street," gained popularity, launching his recording career.
Austin's soft tenor voice was well-suited to the electronic recording technology of the 1920s, helping to establish the "crooner" style. His 1927 recording of "My Blue Heaven" sold over 5 million copies, making it one of the best-selling records of its time. Other notable hits include "The Lonesome Road," "Riding Around in the Rain," "Tonight You Belong to Me," and "Ramona."
In addition to his recording success, Austin transitioned to radio during the Great Depression, hosting his own show from 1932 to 1934. He also appeared in several films. Austin was married multiple times, with his spouses including Kathryn Arnold Austin, Agnes Antelline Austin, Doris Sherrell Austin, LouCeil Hudson Austin, and Gigi Theodorea Austin.
Gene Austin passed away on January 24, 1972, in Palm Springs, California. Posthumously, his recordings "My Blue Heaven" and "Bye, Bye, Blackbird" were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as a pioneering figure in American music.
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