Known as the “LAST OF THE SILVER SCREEN COWBOYS” while following in the footsteps of Roy Rogers and Gene Autry, Rex Allen starred in 19 black and white “B” Movie westerns for Republic Pictures up until 1954 when the “singing cowboy” movie genre ended due to the influence of that new fangled device known as television!

Rex Allen was born outside of the small cattle town of Willcox, Arizona and was a true man of the west. At a young age Rex learned to play guitar and fiddle with his father and start a radio singing career at KOY radio in Phoenix that would eventually lead him to the WLS radio “Barn dance” in Chicago. That regional success would eventually land Rex in Hollywood and the movies. Rex had a great singing career in country and western music with songs like “Cryin in the Chapel” and “Son don’t go near the Indians.”

Walt Disney was impressed with Rex and his deep baritone voice that he hired him to narrate hundreds of Walt Disney nature and wildlife films. Rex was living in Sonoita, Arizona when he passed away in 1999. The town of Willcox has held Rex Allen days the first weekend in October for over 55 years now proud of its native son. (Bio by Jim West)

Rex Allen Museum