AUTRY, GENE
(1907–1998)
AUTRY, GENE (b. Orvon G. A., Tioga Springs, Tex., September 29, 1907–October 2, 1998) The most famous singing COWBOY, Autry transformed the image of the country singer with his introduction of Western garb and mannerisms into his stage persona. In the 1930s he was a star of radio, records, and films; from the end of World War II on, he was primarily a canny businessman who invested in enterprises ranging from real estate to baseball to oil. Besides performing many venerable cowboy hits, he…