Tex Ritter American country singer and film actor Date of Birth: 12.01.1905 Country: USA

Content:

1. Tex Ritter: A Pioneer of Country Music and Western Film
2. Early Show Business Career
3. Radio and Recording
4. Film Career
5. 1950s and Beyond
6. Personal Life and Legacy
7. Death and Honors

Tex Ritter: A Pioneer of Country Music and Western Film

Birth and Family

Woodward Maurice Ritter, known professionally as Tex Ritter, was born on January 12, 1905, in Murvaul, Texas. He grew up on his family's farm in Panola County and attended school in Carthage and Beaumont. After graduating high school, he enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, studying law, political science, and economics.

Early Show Business Career

Ritter's interest in showbiz emerged early on. In 1928, he hosted a half-hour cowboy song show on Houston radio. That same year, he moved to New York City and landed a chorus role in the Broadway show "The New Moon." His cowboy persona, Cord Elam, appeared in the Broadway production "Green Grow the Lilacs" (1930), which later served as the basis for "Oklahoma!"

Radio and Recording

Ritter's radio career began in 1932 with "The Lone Star Rangers." He also hosted the children's program "Cowboy Tom's Roundup" and performed in various other shows. In 1933, he signed with the American Record Company (later Columbia Records) and released his first single, "Goodbye Ole Paint."

Film Career

Ritter made his film debut in "Song Of The Gringo" (1936) and starred in 12 B-westerns for Grand National Pictures. After leaving Grand National in 1938, he starred in over 40 musical cowboy films through 1945. He later teamed up with Johnny Mack Brown at Universal Pictures, making hit films like "The Lone Star Trail" (1943) and "The Old Chisholm Trail" (1942).

1950s and Beyond

Ritter continued his acting career throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, accumulating over 70 film and television credits. He recorded with Capitol Records and became a country music pioneer. He was a founding member of the Country Music Association and helped establish the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

Personal Life and Legacy

Ritter married actress Dorothy Fay in 1941. The couple had two sons, Thomas and John. After Thomas was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, Ritter became heavily involved in the United Cerebral Palsy foundation.

Death and Honors

Tex Ritter died of a heart attack on January 2, 1974, just days before his 69th birthday. He is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Western Music Association Hall of Fame, and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame. His son, John Ritter, and grandson, Jason Ritter, both became successful actors, continuing a family legacy in the entertainment industry.

Country-folk

Nanci Griffith	Morgan Wallen	Tammy Wynette
Collin Raye	Ray Price	Dixie Chicks