He was a singer-songwriter born in Mount Vernon, New York, who was educated at Colgate and Columbia Universities and also studied in Paris.
During WWII he gave tuition in singing and produced shows for radio and the military as well as receiving a bronze star and 4 Battle Stars for his service.
In 1949 he started a music publishing company called St. Nicholas Music and he is best remembered for his Christmas songs which include “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree”.
He was the great uncle of the economist Steven Levitt, and he was the director of ASCAP from 1957 to 1961.
He died, aged 75, in New York City.
Gene Autry Recordings
Nine Little Reindeer (Gene Autry, Johnny Marks and Merle Travis)
Sources: