The famous Christmas carol “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer” was created by Robert L. May (July 27, 1905 – August 11, 1976) in 1939. It first appeared in a booklet written by May and published by Montgomery Ward, the department store.

In 1948, May persuaded his brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, to write the words and the music for a musical adaptation of Rudolph. Though the song was initially turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was finally recorded in 1949 by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry, whose wife persuaded him to sing it. The song became a phenomenal success and would be recorded by many famous artists, including Mitch Miller, Dean Martin, and Perry Como - and eventually even by Bing Crosby. The song became the second-most popular Christmas tune of all time, surpassed only by "White Christmas."

Rudolph soon became part of the American culture. At the end of 1950, the Chicago Tribune wrote: "There is no question but that Rudolph has become a legend—the first new and accepted Christmas legend since Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol,' and Clement Moore's 'A Visit from St. Nicholas.' "Six years later, a book on American Christmas noted: "The tale of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a very important addition to the folk celebration of Christmas. It has become popular in a short time, and there are signs that this 'rejected' deer will be fused with Santa Claus in Christmas lore."

More Info: en.wikipedia.org