One hundred thirteen years ago in a town called Posey, Texas, one of America's most famous singing cowboys was born.
Happy birthday, Eddie Dean!
According to his obituary in The Los Angeles Times, Dean, born Eddie Dean Glosup, started his career in vaudeville. He got a radio show in Tulsa, Okla. in 1930, then went on to the National Barn Dance show in Chicago.
His movie career began in the 1930s.
From his obituary:
Known as the golden-throated cowboy for an exceptionally melodious voice, Dean appeared in more than 30 Western movies starting in 1936. In the 1940s he was among the 10 most popular cowboy stars and was the first singing cowboy to do movies in color. ...
Most critics agreed that Dean’s singing was the best part of his movies. He possessed, in the words of one critic, “one of the better sets of pipes among cowboy Carusos.” The late Gene Autry, with whom Dean appeared in several movies, once said he had the best voice of all the cowboy singers. ...
Here's a tune from Eddie's 1947 film The Tioga Kid. Though he says there ain't no gal got a brand on me," in real life, a gal named Lorene Donnelly "Dearest" Dean was married to him from 1930 until his death in 1999.
Here's an older Eddie performing perhaps the greatest song he ever wrote, "One Has My Name, (The Other Has My Heart)." I actually prefer Jerry Lee Lewis' version the best, but this is fantastic in its own right. His wife was one of the songwriters.
Here's one for Santa Fe ...
Though born in Texas, Eddie apparently had a thing for Northern New Mexico. Equal time for Taos here.
And this one might be about New Mexico. The lyrics don't specify which part of the San Juan River he's thinking of, but lets pretend it's the northwest New Mexico section.
One thing I do know: If there's a Hillbilly Heaven, Eddie's there.
