Born in Butler, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). Composer and songwriter with Gene Autry (and often Harry Tobias) for Autrey's westerns from 1937 (SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES). Other notable credits, sometimes uncredited, include THE OLD BARN DANCE, UNDER WESTERN STARS and GOLD MINE IN THE SKY (all 1938), ROVIN' TUMBLEWEEDS and SOUTH OF THE BORDER (both 1939), RANCHO GRANDE, SHOOTING HIGH, GAUCHO SERENADE, CAROLINA MOON and RIDE, TENDERFOOT, RIDE (all 1940), NORTH OF THE ROCKIES (1942), HOOSIER HOLIDAY and ARIZONA TRAIL (both 1943) and BOSS OF BOOMTOWN and SING, NEIGHBOR, SING (both 1944).    Nominated for Music Best Song 1938: UNDER WESTERN STARS "Dust" - Music & Lyric 1 nomination