Gene Autry
Group 2
Lauren Hartmann, Suyog Dahal, Benjamin Markham, and
Sarah Youssef
Artist Biography
● Born Orvon Gene Autry on
September 29, 1907 in Tioga,
Texas
● Son of Delbert and Elnora
Ozment Autry
● Married to Ina Mae Autry remarried to Jacqueline Autry
after Ina passed away
Ovron Gene Autry
Gene Autry’s Early Years
● Was taught how to sing at the age of 5 by his grandfather,
William T. Autry, a Baptist preacher.
● His interest in music was encouraged by his mother, who
taught him hymns and folk songs.
o Started to perform anywhere in Tioga such as church
choir, school plays, local cafes, and so forth.
● Encountered actor Will Rogers while working as an
operator
o Told Autry to go to New York to pursue a singing
career
Eder, R.B
Gene Autry’s Career
● First Record with RC Victor - October 9, 1929
o “My Dreaming of You” and “My Alabama Home”
● Signed with American Record Corporation
o “That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine” duet with Jimmy Long
o Landed first radio job on Chicago’s WLS as “Oklahoma's Yodeling
Cowboy.”
o Focused on Western songs and attire
 Known as “Singing Cowboy”
● Movie debuts:
o The Phantom Empire, Tumbling Tumbleweeds,
The Singing Cowboy, Rhythm of the Saddle,
and Sioux City Sue, and more!
● Produced own TV series, The Gene Autry Show
Eder, R.B
Major Influence
● Jimmie Rodgers
o Considered “The Father of Country Music”
and was arguably Gene’s largest musical
influence.
o Also known as “The Blue Yodeler” or
sometimes “America’s Blue Yodeler”, a
musical style that Autry imitated.
o Early in his career, Autry would practice
Jimmie Rodgers’ songs, he would imitate
Jimmie Rodgers to the point that sometimes,
on the songs he recorded, it was hard to tell
that it wasn’t Rodgers singing.
Cusic, Don. 2007
Other Influences
● The Carter Family
o Along with Jimmie Rodger, they were one of the first successful country
music stars. Known for switching the musical emphasis from the
instruments to the voice in hillbilly music. Autry recorded multiple
Carter Family songs.
● Gene Austin & Al Jolson
o While auditioning for record companies in New York City, Gene Autry
auditioned using Gene Austin and Al Jolson songs.
● Vernon Dalhart
o Dalhart had extreme success taking hillbilly music and adapted it to
suite the taste of the non-hillbilly music listening population. Autry
idolized the success and popular appeal Vernon Dalhart had.
Cusic, Don. (2007)
Musical Style
● First music: a mix of hillbilly, blues, country, yodel
songs, and cowboy ballads
● Carl Cotner: A saxophone, clarinet, and piano player
in Autry’s band who often helped translate Autry’s
thoughts into musical notes and arrangements
o Brought in a rhythm & blues style
Eder, Bruce. (2014)
Musical Style
● Before he went to war, Autry moved away
from country music occasionally
● Autry also scored big when he moved
away from country songs
o
He recorded “Blueberry Hill” 16 years before Fats
Domino did
Eder, Bruce. (2014)
Musical Style
● After World War II (1939-1945), Autry
began incorporating more folk and pop
songs into his collection
● His songs saw more lyrics about boy and
girl romantic love
“Goodnight Irene” (1950)
o “Have I Told You Lately That I Love You” (1946)
o
Gene Autry Entertainment (2014).
Musical Style
● Some of Gene Autry’s biggest
hits ended up being Christmas
songs
o
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”
was the #1 song on both the Pop
and Country charts in 1949. It was
still #3 on the Pop chart and #5 on
the Country chart in 1950.
Gene Autry Entertainment (2014).
Music Genres of the 1930’s and 1940’s
SwingThe most popular style of American
music in the 1930’s and 1940’s. relies on
an upbeat tempo and syncopation.
Country and WesternPopularized by cowboy and western
Hollywood films in which romanized
actors(notably Gene Autry and Roy
Rogers) were shown performing this
style of music.
Music Genres of the 1930’s and
1940’s
Bing CrosbyArguably the most famous singer of the time period. Known for his many iconic
films and songs including “White Christmas.” Was heavily influential to both
Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
http://bingcrosby.com
Relevant events of the Time
Period
Stock Market Crash of 1929
Many songs of the time were geared toward to the depression and working
class. One example of this would be “The Death of Mother Jones” by Gene
Autry which tells of Mary Harris Jones, an American labor organizer. One lyric
in the song says “and bring back better conditions for every laboring man,” a
tribute to the kind of hope the song was trying to inspire. Also The “Maddox
Brothers and Rose” wrote a song against the Taft-Hartley act(a federal law that
restricts the power of labor unions).
Relevant events of the Time
Period
Stock Market Crash of 1929
Aside from affecting the content and lyrics of the music produced, the Great
Depression also affect how the music was distributed and heard.
The poor financial state many people were in reduced the number of records
that were sold. This led to the popularization of radio, a free source of music.
This benefited many up and coming musicians, including Gene Autry.
Artists Influenced by
Gene Autry
Gene Autry’s success influenced many of the up and coming
country singers.
● Eddy Arnold
o Eddy Arnold’s music and style was originally influenced by
“cowboy singers” like Gene Autry. Eddy had the
opportunity meet Autry early in his career.
o Was quoted saying “There was something in Gene Autry’s
voice” that captured him. Also saying that Autry’s singing
talent made him stop and take notice.
Cusic, Don. (2007)
Artists Influenced by Gene
Autry
● Johnny Cash
o Gene Autry has a large influence on Johnny Cash, even at a
young age.
o In Cash’s song “Who’s Gene Autry”, he tells a stories about
Gene Autry to his son. Cash said he would save all his change
just to go see Gene Autry movies. He also sings in the song
“Well, he could ride his horse and play his guitar, and sing all at
the same time. And I was ridin’ right along there beside him, on
that broomstick pony of mine.” expressing how he looked at
Gene Autry as an idol.
Gene Autry’s
Legacy
● Career began to diminish around early 1960s
● Inducted to Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969
● Winner of 2 Grammy Hall of Fame Awards (1985
and 1997)
● Has 5 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
o motion pictures, radio, music, TV, and live
theater
● Was 91 years old when he died on October 2, 1998
in Studio City, California
Smith, J.G
References
Cash, Johnny. (1978) “Who’s Gene Autry”. I Would Like to See You Again. New York: Columbia Records.
Cusic, Don. (2007) Gene Autry: His Life and Career. Jefferson: MacFarland & Company.
Eder, Bruce. (2014). Gene Autry: Biography. Retrieved from:
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gene-autry-mn0000160094/biography
Eder, R. B. (n.d.). Gene Autry Bio | Gene Autry Career. CMT Artists. Retrieved June 03, 2014, from
http://www.cmt.com/artists/gene-autry/biography/
Gene Autry Entertainment (2014). The official website for gene autry america’s favorite singing cowboy: Music. Retrieved from:
http://www.autry.com/musicmovies/musiccds/
Orvon Gene Autry. (2014). Retrieved 02:13, Jun 03, 2014, http://www.biography.com/people/gene-autry-9542056
Roughstock Staff (2009). Cowboy Music. Retrieved June 3rd, 2014 from: http://www.roughstock.com/history/cowboy-music/
Smith, J. G. (n.d.). “Gene Autry”. Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 03, 2014, from
http://countrymusichalloffame.org/Inductees/InducteeDetail/gene-autry
Swing Music. Retrieved from June 3rd, 2014 from: http://history.just-the-swing.com/swing-history/swing-music
“The Death of Mother Jones” remembered by Gene Autry (2013). Retrieved on June 3rd, 2014 from:
http://talkingunion.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/the-death-of-mother-jones-remembered-by-gene-autry/