Ray Whitley

Vocalist/songwriter Ray Whitley was among Hollywood’s initial cowboy crooners. Unlike Gene Autry, he continued to be a supporting acting professional rather than starred in his personal group of feature movies, although he do make many musical film pants during the middle-’30s. In tandem with Fred Rose, he also co-penned a few of Autry’s best-loved tracks, including “Back the Saddle Once again” and “Age groups and Age groups Ago.” Whitley, created in Atlanta, primarily played music just sometimes at community gatherings until finding Jimmie Rodgers in the past due ’20s. He finally considered professional performance once the Major depression pressured him into long term unemployment; his 1st gigs had been with the number Ramblers, later on renamed the Six Club Cowboys, who performed the World Tournament Rodeo up with the 1960s. Ray Whitley produced his documenting debut in 1933, and lastly found Hollywood in 1936, where he produced his feature film debut co-starring with William Boyd in Hopalong Cassidy Results. Between 1938 and 1942, he produced some short movies for RKO, and in addition performed the sidekick in several Tim Holt movies. His last film appearance arrived in 1956, playing the ranch supervisor in the Wayne Dean classic Large. Through the 1950s, he briefly handled the Sons from the Pioneers and Jimmy Wakely. Whitley documented through the past due ’70s and was a favorite performer at cowboy film celebrations, where he sang and shown his substantial prowess having a bullwhip. He passed away in 1979 on the fishing visit to Mexico.