Born in Tioga, Texas, Autry was raised in Texas and Oklahoma. Discovered by humorist Will Rogers, in 1929 Autry was billed as "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy" at KVOO in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He gained a popular following, a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1929, and soon after, performed on the "National Barn Dance" for radio station WLS in Chicago. Autry first appeared on screen in 1934 and up to 1953 popularized the musical Western and starred in 93 feature films. In 1940 theater exhibitors of America voted Autry the fourth biggest box office attraction, behind Mickey Rooney, Clark Gable, and Spencer Tracy.
While best known today as the singer of such holiday fare as Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane), Frosty The Snowman, Peter Cottontail, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the second all-time best selling Christmas single of all time, Autry made 640 recordings, including more than 300 songs written or co-written by him. His records are reputed to have sold more than 100 million copies. His recording of That Silver-Haired Daddy Of Mine is reputed to have sold more than 5 million copies. Autry's other significant recordings include:
* You Are My Sunshine (1931)
* A Face I See at Evening (1931)
* The Last Roundup (1933)
* Cowboy's Heaven (1934)
* South of the Border (1934)
* Tumbling Tumbleweeds (1935)
* Mexicali Rose (1935)
* Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle (1935)
* Gold Mine in the Sky (1937)
* Back in the Saddle Again (1939)
* Blueberry Hill (1941)
* Be Honest With Me (1946)
* Ghost Riders in the Sky (1949)
* Nobody's Darlin' but Mine (1957)
From 1940 to 1956 Autry hosted the weekly Melody Ranch radio show over the CBS Radio Network, featuring Autry's trademark theme song Back In The Saddle Again. In addition, Autry's popularity was apparent during his personal appearance tours. Claimed to have been the first performer to sell out Madison Square Garden, his concert and rodeo appearances throughout the United States and Europe served as a model for other performers. Autry often did two shows a day, seven days a week, for 65 to 85 days at a stretch.
In 1950, Autry became one of the first major movie stars to turn to television. For the next five years he produced and starred in 91 half-hour episodes of The Gene Autry Show for CBS Television. This success lead him to produce such popular TV series as Annie Oakley, The Range Rider, Buffalo Bill Jr., The Adventures Of Champion as well as the first 39 episodes of Death Valley Days.
He carried his love for entertaining and sharp business sense into broadcasting, where, under the Golden West Broadcasters banner, he owned a chain of radio and television stations throughout the Western United States, including KMPC and KTLA in Los Angeles and KSFO in San Francisco until the late 1980's. His other business interests included the Gene Autry Hotel in Palm Springs, and several other properties. He ranked for many years on the Forbes magazine list of the 400 richest Americans, before he fell in 1995 to the magazine's "near miss" category with an estimated net worth of $320 million.
Autry's broadcasting interests that led him in 1960 to acquire the then expansion Los Angeles Angels American League baseball franchise (later the California Angels). After his retirement from performing in the mid-1960's, much of Autry's time was spent unsuccessfully attempting to win a World Series' championship for his Angels. When he became the first country musician to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, he said that there's "only one day that will be bigger than this one for me, and that's when we win the World Series." Autry was a fixture at Angels' games for the rest of his life.
Autry's long-cherished dream came true with the opening in November 1988 of the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum, since acclaimed as one of the finest museums on the history and mythology of the West.
Among the many hundreds of honors and awards Autry has received were induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame; the American Academy of Achievement Award, the Los Angeles Area Governor's Emmy from The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences; and the Board of Directors Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Achievement in Arts Foundation. Autry was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, The National Cowboy Hall of Fame, the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and he received The Songwriters Guild Life Achievement Award. He was also honored by his songwriting peers with a lifetime achievement award from ASCAP.
Gene Autry died at his home in Studio City, California on October 2, 1998 at the age of 91.
That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine
Gene Autry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bravely fighting the battle of time
There's a dear one who's weathered life's sorrows
It's that silver haired daddy of mine.
If I could recall all the heartaches
Dear old daddy, Ive caused you to bear
If I could erase those lines from your face
If God would but grant me the power
Just to turn back the pages of time
I'd give all I own if I could but atone
To that silver haired daddy of mine.
I know it's to late, dear old daddy
To repay for the sorrows and cares
Tho' dear mother is waiting in Heaven
Just to comfort and solace you there.
The song "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine" by Gene Autry is a touching tribute to a father who has lived a long and difficult life. The song describes a father who lives in a humble shack in the mountains, but who has bravely fought the battle of time. Despite the many sorrows and hardships that life has thrown his way, this father has weathered them all with dignity and grace. As the lyrics suggest, he is someone who has earned the love and respect of his children.
Through the song, the singer expresses a deep regret for the pain and heartache that they may have caused their father over the years. They wish they could turn back the clock and undo the mistakes of the past, erasing the lines from their father's face and restoring the gold to his hair. The song ends with a poignant acknowledgment that it is too late to make up for lost time, but that the father will find comfort and solace with his wife in heaven.
The lyrics of "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine" are powerful and moving, reminding us of the sacrifices and struggles that our parents have faced on our behalf. Through this song, Gene Autry captures the deep and complex emotions that we feel towards our fathers, especially as they grow older and we come to realize the full extent of what they have done for us.
Line by Line Meaning
In a vine covered shack in the mountains
My father lives in a modest home in the mountains covered with vines.
Bravely fighting the battle of time
Despite his age and the challenges he faces, my father remains courageous and strong.
There's a dear one who's weathered life's sorrows
My father has endured many hardships and difficulties throughout his life.
It's that silver haired daddy of mine.
But through it all, my father has remained my beloved dad with his silver hair.
If I could recall all the heartaches
If I could go back in time, I would remember all the pain and hardship I've caused my father.
Dear old daddy, Ive caused you to bear
I realize now that my actions have made life harder for my aging father.
If I could erase those lines from your face
I wish I could take away the wrinkles and signs of stress from my father's face.
And bring back the gold top your hair.
I also wish I could make my father young again with his golden hair.
If God would but grant me the power
If only I had the ability to turn back time and make things right.
Just to turn back the pages of time
I wish I could go back and undo all the wrong things I've done.
I'd give all I own if I could but atone
I would do anything to make up for my mistakes and show my father how much I truly care.
To that silver haired daddy of mine.
I want my father to know how much he means to me, even with his silver hair and age.
I know it's to late, dear old daddy
I understand that I cannot change the past, and it's too late for some things.
To repay for the sorrows and cares
I cannot make up for all the pain and difficulties I've caused my father.
Tho' dear mother is waiting in Heaven
While my mother has passed away and is waiting for my father in Heaven.
Just to comfort and solace you there.
I know my mother will give my father comfort and peace when he joins her.
Writer(s): Gene Autry, Jimmy Long
Contributed by Connor S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@t4texastom587
Back in the 1930s, my father, who was a young Texas farm boy, got to go to Ft. Worth and attend the Fatstock Show & Rodeo. He got to see the legendary Tom Mix
and the forever popular
singing cowboy star Gene Autry.
Tom Mix sold Autry his
first horse, which of course became Champion, The Wonder Horse..... appearing in Autry's first several movies.
R. I. P.
GENE 🇨🇱 AUTRY
TOM MIX
and
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY
to my own
Silver-Haired Daddy.
@jamiewallin2636
This in my opinion is what you call true singing
@theresachiorazzi4571
In that era we had something to believe in we admired people can’t say the same for now it’s a different world today
@t4texastom587
Back in the 1930s, my father, who was a young Texas farm boy, got to go to Ft. Worth and attend the Fatstock Show & Rodeo. He got to see the legendary Tom Mix
and the forever popular
singing cowboy star Gene Autry.
Tom Mix sold Autry his
first horse, which of course became Champion, The Wonder Horse..... appearing in Autry's first several movies.
R. I. P.
GENE 🇨🇱 AUTRY
TOM MIX
and
HAPPY HEAVENLY BIRTHDAY
to my own
Silver-Haired Daddy.
@deanhoward4128
He won the very first gold record for this song!
@sandracolby8548
i've got every movie gene ever made
@wyattbirge7747
Reminds me of my great grandpa who passed away in November of 2020. He used to sing this, Mama Tried, Folsom Prison Blues, Okie from Muskogee, Tender years. He’s in Heaven now though, last April grandma had a dream of him holding a Bible and walking up to heaven. 😔
@Shelton1967
My dad used to sing this song. He died in June of 2020. He would love all those songs you listed.
@t4texastom587
Wyatt Birge
R.I.P.
To your dear
Grandfather 🙏
@t4texastom587
@@Shelton1967
So sorry for the loss of your Dear Dad.....I definitely miss mine too.
@Shelton1967
@@t4texastom587 Thank you.