Songwriters Hall of Fame

The most popular singer of the late 1920’s, Gene Austin was born Eugene Lucas on June 24, 1900 in Gainesville, Texas.

After studying both dentistry and law, Austin began his singing career in vaudeville acts in the early 1920’s. His recording career started in 1923. His amiable vocal and piano style launched him on radio and records as ‘The Voice of the Southland’. His recording of ‘My Blue Heaven’ was the second biggest non-holiday record seller of the entire pre-1955 era. Austin also composed more than 100 songs without ever learning to read or notate music.

In addition to ‘My Blue Heaven’, Austin had 55 top twenty hits from 1925 through 1934 including the #1 hits ‘Yes Sir! That’s My Baby’ (1925), ‘Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue’ (1926), ‘Bye Bye, Blackbird’ (1926), ‘Tonight You Belong to Me’ (1927), ‘Forgive Me’ (1927), ‘Ramona’ (1928), ‘Jeannine (I Dream of Lilac Time)’ (1928) and ‘Carolina Moon’ (1929).

Austin also appeared in several movie musicals in the 1930’s most notably, The Gift of Gab.

Gene Austin died on January 24, 1971.