GENE AUTRY'S WESTERN CLASSICS

Vol. I Columbia HL 9001

GENE AUTRY

Back in The Saddle Again • Tumbling Tumbleweeds • Home On The Range • Red River Valley • Mexicali Rose South Of The Border • Twilight On The Trail • Ridin' Down The Canyon

Gene Autry, the number one cowboy box-office attraction on the screen, on Columbia records, on the radio and in rodeo arenas, is a person who climbed to the heights the hard way. And to top it off, two states — Texas and Oklahoma— claim him as their own. In fairness, each has a right to the claim. Gene was born on a ranch near Tioga, Texas and spent his early boyhood there. Then his family moved to a ranch on the other side of the Red River, near a town named Ravia, and he was in Oklahoma. From then on Oklahoma saw him develop into manhood.

Gene's life was much the same as that of millions of other youngsters who were raised on the farm or in small towns. His father was a cattle buyer, and young Gene helped brand the cattle, dip them, round them up and in general did whatever there was to be done. Later, as a young man, he worked in a railroad telegraph office in Chelsea, Oklahoma. At night he sat around waiting for the messages, singing to himself and strumming his guitar for diversion.

One night as Gene sang away, a stranger came in to send a wire. When Gene had finished, the stranger said "Well, young fellow, all I can say is that you're wasting your time out here . . . you ought to be on the radio." When Gene read the telegram, he was amazed to find that the stranger

was Will Rogers. And Rogers' generous statement was all the encouragement Gene needed to begin his singing career in earnest. He left his job, and with his guitar and a limited wardrobe made his way to New York.

Soon after Gene arrived in Manhattan, Columbia signed him to a recording contract, an event which proved to be one of the most important in his life. For his records were immediately and sensationally popular — so popular that it was impossible to supply the demand. From all" corners of the country the cry went up: More Autry! The fabulous popularity of the young Westerner caught Hollywood's attention, and he was quickly signed to a long term movie contract. The studio's judgment was proved almost overnight.

During his first year in the movie capitol, Gene made eight movies, and the studio was pleasantly amazed at the box-office phenomenon it had under contract. For six successive years, Gene was voted among the highest ten box-office stars in the entire cinema industry. And his Columbia Records kept pace with his career in films, again and again landing him at the top of popularity polls. This collection of Western Classics is a group of Gene's own favorites, in his own special versions. Listen now to these familiar and haunting songs of the West, sung as only Gene can sing them.



	GENE AUTRY'S WESTERN CLASSICS Vol. I Columbia HL 9001 GENE AUTRY Back in The Saddle Again • Tumbling Tumbleweeds • Home On The Range • Red River Valley • Mexicali Rose South Of The Border • Twilight On The Trail • Ridin' Down The Canyon

	Gene Autry, the number one cowboy box-office attraction on the screen, on Columbia records, on the radio and in rodeo arenas, is a person who climbed to the heights the hard way. And to top it off, two states — Texas and Oklahoma— claim him as their own. In fairness, each has a right to the claim. Gene was born on a ranch near Tioga, Texas and spent his early boyhood there. Then his family moved to a ranch on the other side of the Red River, near a town named Ravia, and he was in Oklahoma. From then on Oklahoma saw him develop into manhood. Gene's life was much the same as that of millions of other youngsters who were raised on the farm or in small towns. His father was a cattle buyer, and young Gene helped brand the cattle, dip them, round them up and in general did whatever there was to be done. Later, as a young man, he worked in a railroad telegraph office in Chelsea, Oklahoma. At night he sat around waiting for the messages, singing to himself and strumming his guitar for diversion. One night as Gene sang away, a stranger came in to send a wire. When Gene had finished, the stranger said "Well, young fellow, all I can say is that you're wasting your time out here . . . you ought to be on the radio." When Gene read the telegram, he was amazed to find that the stranger	was Will Rogers. And Rogers' generous statement was all the encouragement Gene needed to begin his singing career in earnest. He left his job, and with his guitar and a limited wardrobe made his way to New York. Soon after Gene arrived in Manhattan, Columbia signed him to a recording contract, an event which proved to be one of the most important in his life. For his records were immediately and sensationally popular — so popular that it was impossible to supply the demand. From all" corners of the country the cry went up: More Autry! The fabulous popularity of the young Westerner caught Hollywood's attention, and he was quickly signed to a long term movie contract. The studio's judgment was proved almost overnight. During his first year in the movie capitol, Gene made eight movies, and the studio was pleasantly amazed at the box-office phenomenon it had under contract. For six successive years, Gene was voted among the highest ten box-office stars in the entire cinema industry. And his Columbia Records kept pace with his career in films, again and again landing him at the top of popularity polls. This collection of Western Classics is a group of Gene's own favorites, in his own special versions. Listen now to these familiar and haunting songs of the West, sung as only Gene can sing them.