GENE AUTRY

[crazyphil]

Way back in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Gene Autry was
King of the Cowboys, at least for me. Saturday matinees were
20 cents and a nickel for candy.
He went off to fight WWII and Roy Rogers took his place.

Gene flew cargo over "the hump" in WWII. I had an uncle that
did the same thing and reported that it was definately a puckering
duty.

Gene wrote some pretty good songs:
Silver Haired Daddy of Mine (I had it played at my Dad's funeral)
Back in the Saddle Again
Ridn' Down The Canyon

Very soon now, if not already, you will be hearing Christmas
carols everywhere you go. Gene had two real big hit carols:
Here Comes Santa Claus
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

Gene made his fortune investing in Southern California real
estate. When he died his estate was estimated at 500 million.

He did not write some of my favorite songs, but he did record
them and sing them in movies:
Round Up Time in Texas
South of the Border Down Mexico Way
Sioux City Sioux I thought he had written this one because it
was like he was singing about his wife. "Her hair is red, her
eyes are blue, I'd swap my horse and dog for you."

He bought the Los Angeles Angels in 1968. Now the Anaheim
Angels. And he opened the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum
in 1988. I have been in LA many times, but somehow failed to
ever go to the museum.

He passed away in 1998 at age 91. RIP Gene.

 

[Eric300]

'The Singing Cowboy', How can you not love that music? Of course, Roy Rodgers wasn't too shabby himself..... Or, Sons Of The Pioneers.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-YLGUHIqhU[/ame]

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Besides defending the Country, writing songs, singing, movies, TV etc, Gene was a superb businessman and Made millions.
A guy named Jerry Skinner does excellent YouTube bio videos on performers and others.
If you like Gene like I do, I strongly recommend this one.
Gene Autry: From Poverty to Wealth (Jerry Skinner Documentary) - YouTube

 

[crazyphil]

He was also a real cowboy. At least he worked on the family ranch,
until his interest, and opportunities, in music took over.

 

[rockquarry]

No doubt Gene Autry was a great guy and great American, but trying to sit through an entire Gene Autry movie would be tough. Same for Hopalong films.

 

[rwsmith]

My Dad said...

No doubt Gene Autry was a great guy and great American, but trying to sit through an entire Gene Autry movie would be tough. Same for Hopalong films.

My Dad said it made him mad when he'd go see a decent cowboy movie that some guy would pull out a guitar and sing a song. I wasn't that harsh on the genre. I expect if you go to see a singing cowboy movie, at some point they are going to sing.

Anyway,we have some real classic from the era and Gene and Roy contributed a lot of them.

 

[crazyphil]

My Dad said it made him mad when he'd go see a decent cowboy movie that some guy would pull out a guitar and sing a song. I wasn't that harsh on the genre. I expect if you go to see a singing cowboy movie, at some point they are going to sing.

Anyway,we have some real classic from the era and Gene and Roy contributed a lot of them.

It does make some people mad when I pull out my guitar and
start singing. Some of them even leave.

 

[ACORN]

It does make some people mad when I pull out my guitar and
start singing. Some of them even leave.

Do you know how to play “Over the Hill and Far Away?”

I’ve asked many times but I cant find the sheet music.

 

[crazyphil]

Do you know how to play “Over the Hill and Far Away?”

I’ve asked many times but I cant find the sheet music.

I Googled the title + sheet music and a couple of sources
came up.

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

My uncle by marriage was Gene's cousin and he managed and ran Gene's
rodeos in the late 40's early 50's. Places like Madison Square Garden and
the Cow Palace in San Francisco. My uncle was also a rancher and Quarter Horse judge and breeder. I have the 2nd edition of his Quarter Horse Journal with some of his stud horses listed. My older brother who lived with my aunt and uncle and rodeoed with my uncle for 3 years had a pair of Gene Autry chaps which a guy from California came and purchased in the early 90's for the museum.
I remember when I was five going to my uncle's ranch during the cattle
roundup. He had about 5 or 6 cowboys driving cattle, just like in a Gene
Autry movie. They drove these cattle across country to the rail head to
ship to the stock yards in Fort Worth, Tx. This was very exciting for a
5 year old boy.
For these reasons I was never a big Roy Rogers fan.

 

[rwsmith]

I like the Sons of the Pioneers version...

I Googled the title + sheet music and a couple of sources
came up.

...of 'Whole Lotta Love'.




Good Lord, does that make a funny picture or WHAT?

o/' Gotta whole lotta love...BEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRR o/'

o/' Gotta whole lotta love....BEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRR o/'

 

[THE PILGRIM]

It does make some people mad when I pull out my guitar and
start singing. Some of them even leave.

I want to hear That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine.

 

[crazyphil]

It's on utube by Gene Autry, Glen Campbell, Jim Reeves and
Johnny Cash. Probably others. It was (is) quite popular.

 

[Seamus O'Caiside]

Contrary to popular belief, Gene did not write "Back in the Saddle Again". It was written and recorded by Ray Whitley in 1938, and was revised and recorded by Autry in 1939. Autry was given co-writer credit for the revised version. It became one of his all-time most popular recordings.

 

[mstem]

'The Singing Cowboy', How can you not love that music? Of course, Roy Rodgers wasn't too shabby himself..... Or, Sons Of The Pioneers.

Don't forget Ken Curtis, Festus of Gunsmoke fame to all you young kids, in the Son's of the Pioneers. What a voice he had!

 

[Mule Packer]

Hey, if we're talkin' about singing cowboys, you certainly can't forget John Wayne as Singin' Sandy!
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOrv5rRpAsQ"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOrv5rRpAsQ[/ame]

 

[Nevada Ed]

Yoool, Pilgrim;

I don't think John's strong point was singing...........

but he did put out a few good flicks.

 

[bigmtnman]

Gene was also responsible for the Annie Oakley TV show with Gail Davis, with whom he was (ahem!) ... quite close.

A very early childhood memory of mine is of course Gene singing "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer". One verse was ....

"Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
You'll go down in HISTORY"

I remember later when I started school and learned what "history" meant.
OH! ...Now I get it it ! .... All I knew before was "history" was someplace Rudolph was going to, and to get there you had to go "down".

 

[Jim R]

Besides defending the Country, writing songs, singing, movies, TV etc, Gene was a superb businessman and Made millions.
A guy named Jerry Skinner does excellent YouTube bio videos on performers and others.
If you like Gene like I do, I strongly recommend this one.
Gene Autry: From Poverty to Wealth (Jerry Skinner Documentary) - YouTube

Thank you Pilgrim I watched that last night and it was very good.