Gene Austin

About

Singer and songwriter who pioneered the crooning style popularized by Frank Sinatra and whose song "The Lonesome Road" became a standard.

Before Fame

He grew up learning piano, guitar, and singing in the church choir near Shreveport, Louisiana.

Trivia

After obtaining an audition with the Victor Record Company, he impressed Nat Shilkret, the musical director, that he published Austin's music.

Family Life

He was born Lemeul Eugene Lucas in Gainesville, Texas, just north of Dallas, borrowing his stage name from his stepfather, Jim Austin.

Associated With

When asked how he came up with the crooning style, he reportedly said he was trying to imagine how Al Jolson's mother used to croon to him.