Biography for
Ray Whitley More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

5 December 1901, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Date of Death

21 February 1979, Mexico

Birth Name

Raymond Otis Whitley

Spouse

Catherine Kay Johnson

(1923 - 21 February 1979) (his death) 3 children

Trivia

Famous for writing the western song, "Back in the Saddle Again." The song came about when Whitley was awakened early one morning by a telephone call from his bosses at RKO Pictures, who wanted him to write a song for a new western he was to be starting that day. Explaining the call to his wife, he said, "Well, I'm back in the saddle again." She said that would be a good title for the song, he agreed, sat down and wrote the song in just a few minutes. He performed it later that day while shooting the movie. Cowboy star Gene Autry later heard the song, thought it would be perfect for him, got together with Whitley and rewrote it slightly, then used it in his next movie, and it became his signature song.

Once turned down the opportunity to manage Hank Williams due to other commitments.

In 1937, Whitley approached the Gibson Guitar Co. with a design for a custom guitar he wanted made for himself. The company was so taken with the design it became the popular Gibson SJ200. Ray's original guitar is currently on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, TN.

Frontman of the The Bar-6 Cowboys.

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