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Artist
Gene Austin
12+ albums
swingjazz30scroonerAll
about
Gene Austin (June 24, 1900 - January 24, 1972) was an American singer and songwriter who is considered to have been the first "crooner". Austin was born as Lemeul Eugene Lucas in Gainesville, Texas (north of Dallas), to Nova Lucas (died 1943) and the former Serena Belle Harrell (died 1956). He took the name "Gene Austin" from his stepfather, Jim Austin, a blacksmith. Austin grew up in Minden, the seat of Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, located east of Shreveport. There he learned to play piano and guitar. He ran away from home at fifteen and attended a vaudeville act in Houston, where the audience was allowed to come to the stage and sing. On a dare from his friends, Austin took the stage and sang for the first time since singing as a Southern Baptist choir boy. The audience response was overwhelming, and the vaudeville company immediately offered him a billed spot on their ticket. Austin joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17 in hopes of being dispatched to Europe to fight in World War I. He was first stationed in New Orleans, where he played the piano at night in the city's notorious vice district. His familiarity with horses from helping his stepfather in his blacksmithing business also prompted the Army to assign Austin to the cavalry and send him to Mexico with General John Pershing's Pancho Villa expedition, for which he was awarded the Mexican Service Medal. Thereafter, he served in France in the Great War. On returning to the United States in 1919, Austin
top songs
albums
Restless Heart
My Blue Heaven (Original Recordings 1927 - 1934)
Voice Of The Southland
Gene Austin Popular 1920's Jazz Vocals (Recorded 1925-1930)
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Popular 1920's Jazz Vocals (Encore 2) [Recorded 1925-1928]
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Gene Austin
This Is Gene Austin
A Time to Relax
The Best of Gene Austin
Roaring 20's Revue Vol. 1
The Voice Of The Southland - Greatest Hits
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Popular 1920's Jazz Vocals (Encore 3) [Recorded 1928-1942]