Singing cowboy Sandy's elaborate costumes. While other western actors, such as John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, only dabbled in singing roles, some actors became known mainly for their parts as singing cowboys. The most famous of them was Gene Autry, and the moniker "the singing cowboy" usually refers to him in particular. When Wayne declined further singing cowboy roles, Republic looked for a replacement. Former rodeo rider Autry was chosen because he was the one candidate who could both sing and ride a horse, namely Champion the Wonder Horse. The choice was so successful that, at the time of his death in
Singing cowboy of films with the studio beginning with "Song of the Gringo". Ritter recorded "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darlin'," the movie title-track song for "High Noon" (1952). The song became a hit and received an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song, for 1953. Herb Jeffries and his horse Starbuck made a series of films beginning with "Harlem on the Prairie" (1937). Singing cowgirl Dorothy Page made three films for Grand National Pictures in 1939. With the fame of the operetta "Rose-Marie" and singing cowboy films, a series of films with actor singer James Newill playing a singing Mountie,