Born as Woodward Maurice Ritter, Tex Ritter has become one of the pioneers of country music. He was known to be a singer and an actor, with over 50 acting credits. He also released several singles that entered the charts, some even taking the top spot.
Let’s learn some facts about Tex Ritter as he soared to success.
1. He went to law school.
Tex Ritter graduated with honors from South Park High School in Texas. In 1922, he studied pre-law and majored in government, economics, and political science. He then went to Northwestern Law School after traveling to Chicago.
2. He first had an interest in showbiz.
Before creating and recording numerous singles, he first developed an interest in the show business industry. He appeared in Broadway productions such as The New Moon, Green Grow the Lilacs, The Round-Up, Mother Lode, and Oklahoma! He also performed in TV and radio shows and appeared in radio dramas.
3. He has acted in 70 movies already.
Tex entered the show business industry and slowly established his name as an actor. He has acted in 70 movies, some being Song of the Gringo (1936), Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts (1937), The Golden Trail (1940), Oklahoma Raiders (1944), and his final film role, Sing a Country Song (1973).
4. He recorded his first hit in 1944.
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After signing a deal with Capitol Records, Tex recorded and charted his first hit single, “I’m Wastin’ My Tears on You,” which became a #1 hit on the country chart. The song stayed for a total of 20 weeks on the chart.
5. He charted three #1 hit songs on the charts.
As Tex’s career continued to bloom, he released more singles that landed the second and first spots on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. “I’m Wastin’ My Tears on You,” “You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often,” and “You Will Have To Pay” were among his songs that became a chart-topper. His second-place songs include “There’s a New Moon Over my Shoulder,” “Jealous Heart,” and “Christmas Carols by the Old Corral.”
6. He participated in the 1970 senate campaign.
Tex participated in the senate campaign as he entered Tennessee’s Republican in hopes of being in the US Senate. Unfortunately, he lost to Bill Brock even though his name was starting to become known in the country.
7. He has numerous awards under his name.
Tex has contributed significantly to the country music and show business industry. He was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was also inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 1998. He was also awarded the Golden Boot Award for his efforts in his films.
8. He voices a bear in famous theme parks.
Tex’s voice can still be heard in various theme parks in Disneyland in California (formerly), Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan as he voices an animatronic bear named Big Al.
We hope you enjoyed reading the facts about Tex Ritter! Stay tuned for more of these in the future.
