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 3,033 at the 2010 census. The city, its lake, and its resurgence as a regional travel destination were featured in thJune ...
, United States - d. February 16, 1992 in
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
, USA), also known as Mr. Texas, was an American composer, author, singer, actor, and evangelist.
[Internet Movie Database. "Redd Harper". https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0363942/]
Early life
Although he was born in Texas he was raised primarily in
Oklahoma
Oklahoma (; Choctaw language, Choctaw: ; chr, ᎣᎧᎳᎰᎹ, ''Okalahoma'' ) is a U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States, bordered by Texas on the south and west, Kansas on the nor ...
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
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
friends who, over time, were partly the cause of him accepting that faith. He was a natural
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
player and had an interest in traditional Western
Country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
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 ensembles. The trumpet group ranges from the piccolo trumpet—with the highest register in the brass family—to the bass trumpet, pitched one octave below the standard ...
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. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two Territories became the state of Oklahom ...
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 (genre), Western film directed by John English (director), John English and starring Gene Autry.
Plot
Joe is paralyzed by a wild horse, a strawberry roan. His father, Walt, tries to kill the ...
.
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 singers
People from Nocona, Texas
Singer-songwriters from Texas