Gene Austin

Gene Austin (June 24, 1900 - January 24, 1972) was a American singer and songwriter. Austin was born in Gainesville, Texas.

Related Topics:
June 24 - 1900 - January 24 - 1972 - American - Singer - Songwriter - Gainesville, Texas

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Born Lemeul Eugene Austin to parents Nova Lucas (father, died 1943), and Serena Belle Harrell (mother, died 1956), Gene Austin took his stepfather's (Jim Austin, blacksmith) name.

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Gene Austin enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17, in the hopes of being sent to Europe to fight in World War I. Instead, because of his familiarity with horses from helping his stepfather in his blacksmithing business, he was assigned to the cavalry and sent to Mexico with the Pancho Villa Expedition, WWI, 1916-17 for which he was awarded the Mexican Service Medal.

Related Topics:
United States Army - Cavalry - Mexico - Pancho Villa Expedition - Mexican Service Medal

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On returning to the United States after he was discharged in 1919, Austin attended a vaudeville act in Houston, Texas where the audience was allowed to come to the stage and sing. On a dare from his fellow friends, Austin took the stage and sang for the first time since being a Southern Baptist choir boy. The audience response was overwhelming, and the vaudeville company immediately offered Austin a billed spot on their ticket.

Related Topics:
Vaudeville - Houston, Texas - Southern Baptist

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Austin gave birth to the "crooner" form (a clear light tenor) of singing of the 20's and 30's, and Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Russ Columbo all credited Austin with creating the musical genre that began their careers. Gene Austin became enormously popular in the late 1920s. His recording of "My Blue Heaven" was reputed to be a million seller.

Related Topics:
Bing Crosby - Frank Sinatra - Russ Columbo - My Blue Heaven

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Offered to work in Hollywood at the height of his career as the "Voice of the Southland", Austin appeared in three films, "Belle of the Nineties" (1934), "Klondike Annie" (1936) and "My Little Chickadee" (1940), at the request of his personal friend, Mae West.

Related Topics:
Hollywood - Mae West

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Austin's writing credits include "When My Sugar Walks Down The Street", "The Lonesome Road" and 'Ridin' Around In The Rain".

Related Topics:
When My Sugar Walks Down The Street - The Lonesome Road - Ridin' Around In The Rain

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Gene Austin married his first wife, Kathryn Arnold, a dancer, in 1924 and divorced her in 1929. They had on child, Anne, born in 1928. Austin married his second wife, Agnes Antelline, in 1933, and their dauther Charlotte, was born that same year. He and Agnes divorced in 1940. Austin then married actress Doris Sherrell in 1940, and divorced her in 1946. He married wife number four, LouCeil Hudson, a singer, in 1949, and the marriage lasted until 1966. Austin then married a fifth and final time to Gigi Theodora, in 1967.

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Austin had retired to Palm Springs, California in the late 1950's and had been active in civil boards there until 1970. He died there in 1971 of lung cancer and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Related Topics:
Palm Springs, California - Lung cancer - Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery - Glendale, California

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In 1978, Gene Austin was posthumously awarded a Grammy Hall of Fame Award for his 1928 recording of "Bye, Bye, Blackbird," which has long been considered recorded music's definitive rendition of that song.

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In 2005, Gene Austin was nominated and admitted to the Grammy Hall of Fame.

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