Tex Ritter Rye Whiskey - Deck Of Cards (7inch, 45rpm)

Tex Ritter

Woodward Maurice 'Tex' Ritter, born on 12 January 1907 in Murvaul, Texas, and died on 2 January 1974, ranked alongside Gene Autry and Roy Rogers among the most important 'singing cowboys' admired in countless B-westerns. Even while studying law he was fascinated by western music and the world of the cowboys. He appeared on radio shows and, in the early 1930s, was seen in New York in the Broadway musical 'Green Grow The Lilacs'; he also featured in famous radio series such as 'Lone Ranger' and 'Death Valley Days'.

In 1933 Tex Ritter signed his first recording contract with Columbia, and in 1936 came the call to Hollywood. His first film was 'Song Of The Gringo'; his screen career lasted into the mid-1950s, and alongside it he kept making records for labels such as ARC, Decca and Capitol. He landed his first number-one hit in 1944 with 'I'm Wastin' My Tears On You'.

In Europe Tex Ritter became known above all through 'High Noon', the title song of the film of the same name starring Gary Cooper. Further successes included 'I Dreamed Of A Hillbilly Heaven' and 'Wayward Wind'. In 1964 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame, and in 1965 he moved to Nashville, joined the Grand Ole Opry and made a name for himself in the Country Music Association. His heyday was undoubtedly the 1940s, yet until his death his records kept returning to the country charts.

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