|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZRITTER, Tex(b Woodward Maurice Ritter, 12 Jan. '05, Panola County TX; d 2 Jan. '74, Nashville) Singer, actor. Raised on ranch; attended U of Texas, Northwestern law school, but switched to music. On radio in Chicago, Houston late '20s, then to Broadway; five plays incl. Green Grow The Lilacs, which later became Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!. More radio work as an actor, also co-hosted WHN Barn Dance. First records for ARC '34; movies began '36, over 50 in about ten years, mostly as a singing cowboy. Unsuccessful on Decca '35--9; first country singer to sign with Capitol '42, scored with 'Rock And Rye Rag' '48, 'Daddy's Last Letter' '50; 'High Noon' '52: Frankie Laine had a bigger hit, but Ritter sang the Oscar- winning song in the soundtrack of the Gary Cooper movie and reached no. 12 in the pop chart. Constantly toured after acting career slowed up; co-hosted Town Hall Party on radio with Johnny Bond '53--60. Other pop crossovers were 'The Wayward Wind' and co-written 'I Dreamed Of A Hillbilly Heaven' '61; nine entries in country chart '60--71. Moved to Nashville from West Coast '65, joined Grand Ole Opry, hosted late-night radio show on WSM; ran for US Senate '73 but lost, incurring heavy debts. Helped set up Country Music Foundation and Hall of Fame (elected '64), work carried on after his death by wife Dorothy. First Capitol LP Songs From The Western Screen '58 reissued on Stetson '87; compilation High Noon on Bear Family incl. previously unissued 'Dark Day In Dallas', about '63 JFK assassination. |