Hi, Folks -

Wikipedia says:

"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a song written by Johnny Marks based on the 1939 story Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer published by the Montgomery Ward Company.

[snip]

The song was sung commercially by crooner Harry Brannon on New York City radio in early November 1949,[citation needed] before Gene Autry's recording hit No. 1 in the U.S. charts the week of Christmas 1949. Autry's version of the song also holds the distinction of being the only chart-topping hit to fall completely off the chart after reaching No. 1. The official date of its No. 1 status was for the week ending January 7, 1950, making it the first No. 1 song of the 1950s.[3]

From 1949, here's Gene Autry (1907-1998) with "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

'Tuber Lee Spence commented: "I was born Dec 15, 1949. My nose was very red and my sister wanted my Mother to name me Rudolph and said I could be called Rudy for short. However my name is Lee." :)

Thanks to YouTuber LittleRocknRoller.

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http://youtu.be/7ara3-hDH6I

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--hobie