Who was the first "singing cowboy" of the movies?

Maynard managed to succeed when talking pictures came to movies. He became the first cowboy who performed songs in a film (a 1929 "Voice of Hollywood" short has Maynard singing "Drunken Hiccoughs" in a wailing tenor). Maynard recorded two songs for Columbia Records, "The Cowboy's Lament" and "The Lone Star Trail." This talented actor is still remembered for his amazing performances in more than 90 (!) wonderful movies. Ken is always associated with his white cowboy hat, fancy shirt, and a pair of six-shooters, which were the essential parts of his unforgetable image.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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56 Comments

Bewley Steve

John Wayne was the second "singing cowboy" in a manner of speaking. He couldn't sing, so his singing was dubbed and couldn't play the guitar and that was dubbed by another person. So it took three people to make John Watne a singing cowboy. This was in the 1933, Riders of Destiny.

Player

Gene Autry was the second singing cowboy

mainjim

Good question with good choices!

✨KRISTA✨

Way before my time!?🤗💕

✨KRISTA✨

Phoebe Figalily, Phoebs is at again, telling players that they are wrong!😲 Give it up girl! 🙄

Mary Evens

Cheryl Maxwell, I came across one of his Singing Sandy movies by accident one day on a western channel, and it blew my mind. Of course it was obvious his singing was dubbed.

Mary Evens

hardworkingstiff, You will see in the following comment that Maynard first sang as a movie cowboy in 1929. The first "talkie" The Jazz Singer, came out in 1927. So, even if he started in silents, he worked well after 1927, and was able to transition to 'talkies" .

earlepg

I didn't think it was John Wayne. I never heard him sing in any movie and his voice certainly didn't sound like he would be. I have heard Gene Autry many times of course with Roy Rogers coming along after him. I've never even heard of Ken Maynard, so I figured that he was thrown In because no one knew of him either.