ROOTS of Country Music

Raymond Otis Whitley

(Dec. 5, 1901, Atlanta, Georgia ~ Feb. 21, 1979

Ray Whitle was a country and western singer and radio and Hollywood movie star in 1930-50s western movies.

Ray was in films with George O'Brien, Tim Holt, Jimmy Wakely, Rod Cameron, where he was the hero's helper or just around to add western tunes. 

Whitley was an accomplished songwriter. He wrote the original western tune, Back in the Saddle Again. The song was first heard in the western movie Border G-Man in which he played the part of Luke Jones. Gene Autry heard it and bought the song for a reported $200, making it his theme song. Whitley and Autry changed the order of verse and chorus and made a slight change in the melody into the present version that makes it one of the most recognized and recorded western music tunes in history.

In 1937, Ray Whitley worked with Gibson on the production of the famous Gibson SJ-200 acoustic guitar, which was initially known as the Super Jumbo. Whitley used his own time and money to design a guitar which he took to Gibson.

Whitley explained the features and merits of the instrument, suggesting that by presenting them to other stars of the day, would result in really putting the Gibson name on the musical instrument map. As a result, Whitley was the first performer to own a Gibson SJ-200.

The first SJ-200, custom built by Gibson for Whitley, is on display in the Country Music Hall of Fame. The SJ-200 has since become an American icon and has been played by hundreds of different guitarists over the years

In 1938, Whitley was signed to RKO Pictures and made 54 movies, alongside other cowboy actors of the day including Gene Autry.

In the late 1950s Whitley made appearances on the Roy Rogers TV specials, he also appeared in the feature film Giant starring James Dean.

Ray managed the Sons of the Pioneers in 1937 and helped negotiate their contract with Columbia Pictures. However, Whitley refused to sign the contract himself since he believed Columbia was not giving the Pioneers as much as they deserved.

Ray Whitley

Recording King Guitar

circa 1939

Researched and written by Richard Bell, Roots of Country Music, Apr. 12, 2009.