Redd Harper (born September 29, 1903, in
Nocona, Texas
Nocona is a city along U.S. Highway 82 and State Highway 175 in Montague County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,002 at the 2020 census.
History
The city is named for Peta Nocona, the Comanche chief. The area was first known to ...
, United States - d. February 16, 1992 in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
, USA), also known as Mr. Texas, was an American composer, author, singer, actor, and evangelist.
Early life
Although he was born in Texas he was raised primarily in
Oklahoma
Oklahoma ( ; Choctaw language, Choctaw: , ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Texas to the south and west, Kansas to the north, Missouri to the northea ...
where he enjoyed his childhood due to the freedom and beauty that came with the landscape of the area. Growing up, he had many influences, both religious and musical, that would shape his future career. He grew up with two devoutly
Christian
A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
friends who, over time, were partly the cause of him accepting that faith. He was a natural
guitar
The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...
player and had an interest in traditional Western
Country music
Country (also called country and western) is a popular music, music genre originating in the southern regions of the United States, both the American South and American southwest, the Southwest. First produced in the 1920s, country music is p ...
but also newer genres such as
Western Jazz, leading him to learn to play the
trumpet
The trumpet is a brass instrument commonly used in classical and jazz musical ensemble, ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest Register (music), register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitche ...
as well. In his teens he discontinued his work as a cattle-hand and rancher to pursue journalism. He enrolled in the
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma, United States. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two territories became the ...
and, upon graduation, began work as a newspaper reporter. However he always had aspirations of becoming a country musician.
Musical career
He was a part of a concert band that became more and more successful until they were invited to join an Oklahoma City radio station in 1924. From there, his career took off and his music was in greater demand. In 1931 he joined a larger radio station in Des Moines, found more success, and then decided to head to Hollywood, California. However, he arrived at the end of the Western Jazz era and the beginning of the Great Depression, thus finding it hard to find work and was not as successful as he had been. He struggled to find work in the city. When World War II started, he joined the Coast Guard for three years.
After the war he found success again in Hollywood as he began working with other big-name artists of the time from both radio and movies. During this time he also found success in the movie industry and starred in several films, including
The Strawberry Roan
''The Strawberry Roan'' is a 1948 American western drama film directed by John English and starring Gene Autry, Gloria Henry and Jack Holt. It was distributed by Columbia Pictures. It was the first of two Autry Columbia films shot in Cinecol ...
.
In 1950, he attended a ''Hollywood Christian Group'' meeting and was fully converted then. Christianity became the predominant influence in his life and his songs after reflect this change. He began combining his musical talents with his new passion for evangelist work.
Around this time he released a long playing record of Christian-themed songs on Singtime Records called "Mr. Texas Sings."
Missionary work and later life
Some time after his conversion, he went on missionary expedition to the South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, The Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Europe, and Africa. The rest of his life was spent doing evangelist work. He died in 1992 in the same residence he and his wife Laura had resided in.
See also
* ''
Mr. Texas''
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harper, Redd
1903 births
1992 deaths
American evangelists
20th-century American singer-songwriters
People from Nocona, Texas
Singer-songwriters from Texas