Singing cowboys

"The Cowboy Way". It's still out there, somewhere.

I think you should separate the subjects of Buffalo Bill and this. BB was an earlier era and not involved with either movies or TV.

Nick, this is a fav. subject of mine. When TV first came on with regularly scheduled programs, approx. 1949, B Westerns were popular as they were cheaply bought for use on TV.

The first Movie "singing Cowboy" was Ken Maynard. However, the first Cowboy song was recorded in 1925 by Carl Sprague of Texas. "When the Works All Done This Fall".

source Wiki.

Maynard appeared in a movie "Sons of the Saddle in 1930 and sang 2 songs.

Singin Sandy Saunders- John Wayne appeared under this name in a Western in 1933. One problem, Wayne couldn't sing. His voice was dubbed.

Saunders was, in a way, the Anti Hero. He was a "good guy", but he talked rough and tough, and wore a black hat instead of a white one.

Tex Ritter- Sang the theme for High Noon.

There were others, Roy Rogers, Ken Curtis, [ He later played "Festus Haigen" in the TV series "Gun Smoke".]

Although not a "Singing Cowboy" my favorite was Robert A Bradbury, AKA "Battlin Bob Steele". I think he would have to be remembered as having the most successful and long lived career as a Cowboy star. He started in silent flicks. The film quality was so bad at the time that they had to use make up to make their facial features stand out. This led to Steele's Nickname "The Lipstick Kid". He was active in TV shows into the 70's.

Almost forgot about ol' Hoot Gibson.

Edited by red clay - 04-Jun-2011 at 11:13

"Arguing with someone who hates you or your ideas, is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter what move you make, your opponent will walk all over the board and scramble the pieces".
Unknown.

In 1990 I was involved in a business venture that mainly traded on Nostalgia. There were several other merchants in this small resort area that also traded in nostalgia. Classic TV and Movies etc. We were having an impromtu meeting in our store, the subject being how dowe get more folks in here? A lady who was browsing and overheard us said," Why don't you have a Western Film Fest?" I know that my uncle Alfred would love to be a Guest Star, in person. I replied, who is your uncle? Her reply, Alfred "Lash" LaRue. He was still alive and kicking in his late 70's. We did a huge promo. never expecting much out of it.

On the appointed day, the crowd was large, no, it was huge. Lash showed up dressed all in black, whip and all. There were many there close in age to him and more than a few women were crying.

He signed autographs for close to 6 hours. For his age, he hadn't changed much and he still had a Star aura about him.

Alfred "Lash" LaRUE

Was born on June 14th. 1916, he died May 21 1996,

Edited by red clay - 04-Jun-2011 at 12:01

"Arguing with someone who hates you or your ideas, is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter what move you make, your opponent will walk all over the board and scramble the pieces".
Unknown.

I love the idea that the term "Gringo" might have come from a song sung by American frontiersmen, either "Green Grow the Rushes" or possibly "Green Grow the Lilacs".

What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

Originally posted by opuslola

I tend to side with the "Lilacs!"

Regards,

If they were both songs sung at the time it could be both.

What a handsome figure of a dragon. No wonder I fall madly in love with the Alani Dragon now, the avatar, it's a gorgeous dragon picture.

errmmm, I'd investigate that one a little bit farther. See if you can go beyond folklore. There should be some linguistics you can reffer to. But I would take that a little lightly until you get better sources.

And we should go back to topic. Not fair to Hijack Nick's thread.

Edited by red clay - 04-Jun-2011 at 19:56

"Arguing with someone who hates you or your ideas, is like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter what move you make, your opponent will walk all over the board and scramble the pieces".
Unknown.

I don't think i've heard of Lash LaRue before. What films was he in?

Me Grimlock not nice Dino! Me bash brains!

Sometimes, it is very "old" guys like red clay and I, who bring the past of the 1950's back to life. chuckle

Regards,

http://www.quotationspage.com/subjects/history/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYzZPsK78Gg