Inspired by the music of Gene Autry as a teenager, he began his professional music career in 1947 at age 18, and joined the "Big D Jamboree" in Dallas in 1949.
Inspired by the music of Gene Autry as a teenager, he had began his professional music career in 1947 at age 18. After his debut on Clovis radio as a teenager he later joined the "Big D Jamboree" in Dallas in 1949.