Orvon Gene Autry (September 29 1907 – October 2 1998) was an American performer who gained fame as The Singing Cowboy on the radio, in movies and on television. Early life Autry, the grandson of a Methodist preacher, was born near Tioga, Texas. His parents, Delbert Autry and Elnora Ozmont, moved to Ravia, Oklahoma in the 1920s. After leaving high school in 1925, Autry worked as a telegrapher for the St. Louis?San Francisco Railway. Career Radio and recordings An amateur talent with the guitar and voice led to his performing at local dances. After an encouraging chance encounter with Will Rogers, he began performing on local radio in 1928 as "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy". He signed a recording deal with Columbia Records in 1929. He worked in Chicago, Illinois, on the WLS radio show National Barn Dance for four years with his own show where h