Rudy Sooter(1905-1991)

Rudy Sooter was born on June 17, 1904 in Canada as Roby Cecil Sooter. His parents were John Franklin Sooter and Hattie Blanch Tussing Sooter. Rudy first became known for his country and western music, both as a writer and performer. Bob Nolan and Roy Rogers were in his band before they formed the Sons of the Pioneers. Rudy Sooter worked in radio and in B Western Movies on a very regular basis and became a go to musician and band leader for B Western movie projects. In 1936 his Horse Opera Company featured guitar and mandolin. His Ranchmen recorded with Jimmie Davis for Decca Records. Their collaboration included the popular "You are My Sunshine." Between 1936 and 1951 Rudy appeared in eighty-one western movies as musician or singer in all but twelve where he had roles as character actors. From 1936 to 1943 he appeared in thirteen movies with Tex Ritter. In three of those films he both performed songs and wrote those songs. The 1937 Roy Rogers movie Billy the Kid Returns had a featured appearance by Sooter. In 1947, he collaborated with band leader Spade Cooley, playing in his band and co-writing several songs, including "It's Dark Outside," "Down at the Cuckoo House," and the probing "Who Dug the Hole I Am In?" Later in his acting career he became a familiar face on Gunsmoke, appearing in eighty-four episodes in a wide variety of roles. In six episodes he had a musical role and in four episodes he was a bartender. He died on June 9, 1991 in Reno, Nevada, USA.