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Smiley Burnette was a country music performer and a comedic actor in Western films and TV, known for his role as Gene Autry's sidekick. He was also a prolific singer-songwriter and inventor of musical instruments and audiovisual systems.
Smiley Burnette was a singing cowboy and sidekick to Gene Autry and others in over 80 Westerns. He wrote over 300 western songs, played 100 instruments, and had a white horse with a black circle around one eye.
- March 18, 1911
- February 16, 1967
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".
- January 1, 1
- Summum, Illinois, USA
- January 1, 1
- Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA
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.
Learn about the life and career of Smiley Burnette, a versatile performer in movies, records, radio, and TV. Find his music, songs, books, videos, and links to related sites.
Lester Alvin Burnett , better known as Smiley Burnette, was an American country music performer and a comedic actor in Western films and on radio and TV, pla...
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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."
