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Lester Alvin Burnett (March 18, 1911 – February 16, 1967), better known as Smiley Burnette, was an American country music performer and a comedic actor in Western films and on radio and TV, playing sidekick to Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and other B-movie cowboys.
Smiley Burnette. Actor: Galloping Thunder. Smiley worked on a local radio station and in Vaudeville after high school. Always interested in music, he was friends with Gene Autry and worked with him on the radio show "The National Barn Dance". When Westerns became a big draw with sound, the studios were always on the lookout for singing cowboys.
Smiley Burnette. Actor: Galloping Thunder. Smiley worked on a local radio station and in Vaudeville after high school. Always interested in music, he was friends with Gene Autry and worked with him on the radio show "The National Barn Dance". When Westerns became a big draw with sound, the studios were always on the lookout for singing cowboys.
Smiley Burnette was a native of Illinois. In fact, he had never been west of the Illinois borders until he and Gene Autry came out to California to find out what Movies might have to offer two musicians/songwriters/singers. Smiley's talents were extremely diverse.
Smiley Burnette created the Western music standard "Ridin' Down the Canyon" and was a prolific composer of songs for Hollywood's singing-cowboy Westerns. He also wrote many novelty songs for children and the Australian cowboy classic "My Pinto Pony and I."
Overview. Smiley Burnette. (b. 1911) Quick Reference. B. Lester Alvin Burnette, 18 March 1911, Summum, Illinois, USA, d. 16 February 1967, Encino, California, USA. Although making his name as the cowboy star’s ‘sidekick’, Burnette was a talented ... From: Burnette Smiley in Encyclopedia of Popular Music » Subjects: Music. Reference entries.
This is the official web site dedicated to the memory and works of Lester Alvin Burnett, known to the world as Smiley Burnette - Star of Movies, Records, Radio, and TV.
Lester Alvin Burnett (March 18, 1911 – February 16, 1967), better known as Smiley Burnette, was a popular American country music performer and a comedic actor in Western films and on radio and TV, playing sidekick to Gene Autry and other B-movie cowboys.
Find the location of Smiley Burnette's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, read a biography, see related stars and browse a map of important places in their career.
He died of leukemia in 1967 at the age of 55. Read More ↓. Movie Highlights. See Full Filmography. Find bio, credits and filmography information for Smiley Burnette on AllMovie - Smiley Burnette, said his longtime partner and boss Gene Autry, "couldn't read a note of music but…
