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There are many sources for the Christmas traditions we enact every year. Of course, the holiday was created to celebrate the birth of Christ, despite the fact that while biblical scholars argue amongst themselves whether he was actually born in March or May or September, they almost all agree it wasn't in December.
Apparently, we took that date — as well as certain details regarding Santa Claus and perhaps the Christmas tree, as well — from pagan traditions. Meanwhile, most of our beloved Christmas tales come to us from Britain and American writers of the 19th century, like Charles Dickens, who gave us Scrooge and Tiny Tim, and Clement Moore, who penned “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Likewise, some of the best-loved songs of the season are quite old, such as “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” which dates back to at least the late 18th century, and “Silent Night,” from the mid-19th. But three particularly charming Christmas songs are each just over 60 years old, and that we have these songs today is thanks to a cowboy, a media mogul and a sports executive. And making the story especially interesting: They were all the same man.
Orvon G. Autry was born in 1907. The “G” stood for Grover, but it would be as “Gene” that Autry would achieve lasting fame as a singer, actor and businessman. At the age of 27, Autry parlayed his success as a singer and yodeler on country radio into motion picture stardom, and became one of the biggest box-office draws of the country for the next two decades. He would eventually own television and radio stations and baseball teams, and would become the only performer to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and all the while, he continued recording.
He scored many country hits, but nary a one on the pop side of Billboard's charts — until 1947, that is, when Autry finally crossed over with the first of his three big Christmas songs. “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” was written by Autry after he took part in the annual Santa Claus Parade in Hollywood in 1946. He recorded the song the following August, and it was released in December 1947. It immediately sold more than two million copies, becoming Autry's first pop hit in the process.
Two years later, looking for another holiday-themed song to follow “Here Comes Santa Claus,” Autry was introduced to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by his long-time music director, Carl Cotner. Composer Johnny Marks had written the song to tie into a Montgomery Wards coloring book for children, but while Autry initially didn't care for the tune, he eventually tapped into the story's underdog appeal and released it in late 1949. Over the next few decades, Autry's recording of the song sold nearly 30 million copies.
Autry hit the pop charts one more time, in 1950, when he introduced the world to the story of “Frosty the Snowman.” Like “Rudolph,” that song not only inspired hundreds of cover versions and storybooks, but also a popular Rankin/Bass television special. The next time you hear “Rudolph,” or “Frosty” or “Here Comes Santa Claus,” be sure to tip your Stetson to Gene Autry who, some 60-odd years ago, put Santa back in the saddle again.
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Notes is supported by the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado, promoting the success of after-school programs throughout Colorado in cooperation with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Notes can be heard daily on KAFM 88.1 or at kafmradio.org on the Web.
Apparently, we took that date — as well as certain details regarding Santa Claus and perhaps the Christmas tree, as well — from pagan traditions. Meanwhile, most of our beloved Christmas tales come to us from Britain and American writers of the 19th century, like Charles Dickens, who gave us Scrooge and Tiny Tim, and Clement Moore, who penned “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
Likewise, some of the best-loved songs of the season are quite old, such as “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” which dates back to at least the late 18th century, and “Silent Night,” from the mid-19th. But three particularly charming Christmas songs are each just over 60 years old, and that we have these songs today is thanks to a cowboy, a media mogul and a sports executive. And making the story especially interesting: They were all the same man.
Orvon G. Autry was born in 1907. The “G” stood for Grover, but it would be as “Gene” that Autry would achieve lasting fame as a singer, actor and businessman. At the age of 27, Autry parlayed his success as a singer and yodeler on country radio into motion picture stardom, and became one of the biggest box-office draws of the country for the next two decades. He would eventually own television and radio stations and baseball teams, and would become the only performer to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and all the while, he continued recording.
He scored many country hits, but nary a one on the pop side of Billboard's charts — until 1947, that is, when Autry finally crossed over with the first of his three big Christmas songs. “Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” was written by Autry after he took part in the annual Santa Claus Parade in Hollywood in 1946. He recorded the song the following August, and it was released in December 1947. It immediately sold more than two million copies, becoming Autry's first pop hit in the process.
Two years later, looking for another holiday-themed song to follow “Here Comes Santa Claus,” Autry was introduced to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” by his long-time music director, Carl Cotner. Composer Johnny Marks had written the song to tie into a Montgomery Wards coloring book for children, but while Autry initially didn't care for the tune, he eventually tapped into the story's underdog appeal and released it in late 1949. Over the next few decades, Autry's recording of the song sold nearly 30 million copies.
Autry hit the pop charts one more time, in 1950, when he introduced the world to the story of “Frosty the Snowman.” Like “Rudolph,” that song not only inspired hundreds of cover versions and storybooks, but also a popular Rankin/Bass television special. The next time you hear “Rudolph,” or “Frosty” or “Here Comes Santa Claus,” be sure to tip your Stetson to Gene Autry who, some 60-odd years ago, put Santa back in the saddle again.
-------------------
Notes is supported by the Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado, promoting the success of after-school programs throughout Colorado in cooperation with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Notes can be heard daily on KAFM 88.1 or at kafmradio.org on the Web.
