Born near Tioga, TX. He was working as a railroad telegrapher at a junction in Oklahoma when Will Rogers heard him sing and encouraged him to go into show business. In 1928 he started singing on a local radio station and three years later starred in his own radio show and made his first recordings. In 1934 he made his first film appearance, singing briefly in a Ken Maynard western, IN OLD SANTA FE. This led to a lead role in the 13-chapter serial PHANTOM EMPIRE, and to his first starring role in a feature film, TUMBLIN' TUMBLEWEEDS (1935). Autry, along with his comic sidekick Smiley Burnette and his horse Champion, went on to make dozens of westerns for Republic. Gaining fame as a singing cowboy, Autry led the popularity poll of western stars for several years and is the only western star to be listed among the ten top moneymakers in Hollywood films (1938-42). On the screen, Autry was a no-nonsense cowboy hero. His films typically were packed with action and thin on romance. In addition, his network radio show had a considerable following, and his recordings sold by the millions. Autry wrote some 200 popular songs, including "Here Comes Santa Claus." During WW II he served as flight officer with the Air Transport Command. In his absence a young man named Roy Rogers inherited the rank of Republic's King of the Cowboys. Undaunted, Autry went over to Columbia Pictures, then formed his own film production company, Gene Autry Productions. He was an astute businessman and his many business interests included a radio and TV chain, ranches, oil wells, a flying school, a music publishing company, and the California Angels baseball team. His Flying A Pictures produced several TV series. Author: Back in the Saddle Again (1978).    Nominated for Music Best Song 1941: RIDIN' ON A RAINBOW "Be Honest With Me" - Music & Lyric (w. Fred Rose) 1 nomination