Autry, (Orton) Gene (1907–1998)

US entertainer. His 60-year career included radio, film, television, and rodeo. He was a singing cowboy in the image of Roy Rogers, who discovered him. He is most famous for his songs ‘Back in the Saddle Again’ (1941)and his children's records ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ (1947), ‘Peter Cottontail’ (1950), and ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ (1949), one of the best-selling singles of all time. His films include The Phantom Empire (1935), South of the Border (1939), Mexicali Rose (1939), Back in the Saddle (1941), The Last Round-Up (1947), and Strawberry Roan (1948). He appeared in 93 feature films and made 635 recordings.