Gene Autry was born in 1907 in Tioga, Texas, and went on to become a major Hollywood star known for popularizing country-western music. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969 and is credited with launching an entire genre of movies centered around singing cowboys. Autry’s career spanned 70 years and included appearances in 93 movies and 91 TV productions, as well as success in radio, records, film, television, and live tour performances. Some of his most famous hits include “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” “Back in the Saddle Again,” and American standards like “You Are My Sunshine.”
Despite largely retiring from performing in the 1950s, Autry experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s when his music and image were featured in popular films and celebrated in country songs. His influence can be seen in the mention of his name in Toby Keith’s song “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” Autry went on to become a successful media and sports mogul, founding the Los Angeles Angels Major League Baseball franchise in 1961. Throughout his career, Autry embodied the values of a cowboy, promoting virtues such as respect, honesty, and helping those in need, which resonated with audiences and endeared him to fans.
Autry’s music and image continue to be celebrated, with his voice still heard by millions of Americans each holiday season through his Christmas hits. He remains the only performer with five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with each star representing a different aspect of his multifaceted career in radio, records, movies, television, and live theater. Autry’s legacy as Hollywood’s favorite singing cowboy endures, and his impact on country-western music and entertainment is still felt today.
After a chance encounter with Will Rogers encouraged his dream of singing professionally, Autry made his first recording in 1929 and went on to become known as “Oklahoma’s Yodeling Cowboy” on a Tulsa radio program. He found success on Chicago’s National Barn Dance before signing a record deal and transitioning into a film career as a singing cowboy. Autry’s first movie, “In Old Santa Fe,” launched a series of nearly 100 films that made him one of the most popular stars in America and expanded the audience for country-western music worldwide.
Autry’s career reached its peak as the film industry’s favorite singing cowboy, but his influence extended beyond the entertainment world. He lived by his “Ten Cowboy Commandments,” which included values such as respect, honesty, and helping those in need. Autry’s impact on Hollywood, country-western music, and the entertainment industry as a whole is still felt today, and his enduring legacy continues to inspire new generations of performers and fans. Autry passed away in 1998, leaving behind a lasting contribution to American popular culture and a reputation as one of the most celebrated entertainers in history.
