On October 2nd, 1998, at 91 years of age Gene Autry rode into the sunset.  Born on a ranch in Texas in
1907, Mr. Aurty went on to become one of the legendary pioneers of the Entertainment industry.  He blazed
a musical and acting trail that would garnish him 5 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a feat equaled
by no other entertainer in history.

Story tells it that Will Rogers heard him singing and playing guitar in 1928, and told Gene he should go into
the music business.   Gene was working as a telegraph operator at a railroad station, where Mr. Rogers
was waiting for a train.   He took up the advice and headed for New York where he began his historic ride
in the entertainment industry.  Autry was strongly influenced by Jimmie Rodgers, "The Singing Brakeman",
and immolated him and sang his songs.  In 1929, he got his first record deal and in 1931 his song "Silver-
Haired Daddy of Mine" sells over a million copies. Autry took a job on Radio KVOO, Tulsa, in 1930, billing
himself as "Oklahoma's Singing Cowboy," and singing much in the style of Jimmie Rodgers.

In 1934, Aurty went to Hollywood and in 1935,  "Tumblin' Tumbleweed" is released on the big silver screen.
The singing cowboy in a white hat went on to make 95 movies.  In 1939 Mr Autry begins the "Melody Ranch"
radio show and is now a record, radio and movie star.

Next came a move to Hollywood where following a performance in a Ken Maynard western "In Old Santa
Fe," he was asked to star in a serial "The Phantom Empire." Thereafter, Autry appeared in innumerable B
movies, usually with his horse, Champion. He had great records during the '30s and '40s -- he was easily the
most popular singer of the time -- is awesome, including "Yellow Rose of Texas" (1933), "The Last Roundup"
(1934), "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" (1935), "Mexicali Rose" (1936), "Back In The Saddle Again" (1939),
"South Of The Border" (1940), "You Are My Sunshine" (1941), "It Makes No Difference Now" (1941), "Be
Honest With Me" (1941), "Tweedle-O-Twill" (1942), and "At Mail Call Today" (1945).

He is most remembered by his song "Back In The Saddle Again," but also wrote and recorded monster
hits like "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Here Comes Santa Clause," "Peter Cotton Tail" and "You
Are My Sunshine."  In his career he recorded 635 records.

In 1960, he became a major owner of the Los Angeles Angles baseball team, a sport that he always loved.
That same year he became the first country & western star to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Besides his entertainment career he became one of the richest men in America by buying TV and Radio
stations.  In 1982 he sold KTLA for $245 million dollars.

In 1988, he built the Gene Aurty Western Heritage Museum as a tribute to the Singing Cowboys and the
history of the West.  Happy Trails Mr. Autry and thanks for the ride, because of all the musical gold you left...
we will all continue to sing and ride with you beyond the sunset.

Elected in 1969 to the Country Music Hall of Fame,

We would love your help continuing this story...if you have any important dates or
information that helps us tell the story of the evolution of  the music and
entertainment business send them to us and we will add to KICKIN' UP DUST