2001
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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".
Smiley Burnette. Jump to Edit. Overview. Born. March 18, 1911 · Summum, Illinois, USA. Died. February 16, 1967 · Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA (leukemia) Birth name. Lester Alvin Burnette. Nickname. Ole Frog. Mini Bio. Smiley worked on a local radio station and in Vaudeville after high school.
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. He was a “Handyman, did most everything”!
Explore Smiley Burnette's discography including top tracks, albums, and reviews. Learn all about Smiley Burnette on AllMusic.
Birth Date: 03-18-1911. Place of Birth: Summum, Illinois. Death Date: 02-17-1967. Place of Death: Knoxville, Tennessee. Smiley Burnette created the Western music standard "Ridin' Down the Canyon" and was a prolific composer of songs for Hollywood's singing-cowboy Westerns.
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.
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