Gene tried to play the saxophone when he was a youngster. He finally gave up and turned successfully to the guitar.

Watch a Gene Autry Video Clip

God Bless America
Gene Autry's Melody Ranch Radio Show
(December 6, 1953)

Gene Autry's December 6, 1953 Melody Ranch radio show was transcribed on November 30th, meaning it was recorded on that date and then played on the full CBS Radio Network on the broadcast date. Fans knew that the show was not live because the announcer says in the introduction of the program, "...delicious Doublemint Chewing Gum invites you to another transcribed Sunday night visit with all the gang here at Melody Ranch."

While this episode of the radio show was Christmas themed with songs like "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and Pat Buttram singing "All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," the Cowboy Classic was dedicated to the remembrance of the events at Pearl Harbor 12 years earlier. Gene, who served in World War II, quite passionately introduces the song "God Bless America" and performs it in a very solemn manner. This serious interpretation of the song may sound unusual by today's standards, so it is important to understand the context and time period of this performance.

Gene is backed by the Cass County Boys, the Gene Autry Blue Jeans, Johnny Bond, and Carl Cotner's Melody Ranch Hard-way-Six featuring Alvino Rey.

Composed by Irving Berlin
Published by Irving Berlin

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