The Singing Cowboy

A few years ago, my December BLOG about Rudolph the Ninth Reindeer brought this response from Juanita about Gene Autry, the singing cowboy whose recording of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer sold over two million copies in the 1940s.

Gene Autry was a movie pioneer who changed the western movie landscape in 1935 with his filmTumbling Tumbleweeds. That film ushered in the era of the singing cowboys and Autry was followed into the genre by others like Roy Rogers, Tex Ritter,Monte Hale and Rex Allen. 

Autry began his career singing on the radio before he appeared in his first film in 1931, In Old Santa Fe, which starred Ken Maynard. Autry's popularity was unparalleled and the popularity of his movies only waned during his military service during WWII when Roy Rogers stepped in to fill the gap. Autry died in 1998. 

Juanita writes,

"Just an interesting note about Gene Autrey.

"While attending St. Mark Lutheran Church in Conroe (Texas), I became friends with his niece. At that time she and her family lived in Rivershire (Conroe) off I-45, and since have moved further down I-45, and are now attending the Lutheran Church in Conroe. . 

"I have met/seen her uncles (Autrys brothers) and other family members at gatherings, parties, and weddings. I was always amazed at how much they (the brothers and even her mother) looked, sounded, and had the same mannerisms as Gene. I will try to pass this on to her, but she probably has/knows all this anyway." 

Juanita thus reminds us that none of us is more than three or four steps away from being in touch with any famous personality.