FAQ

No one seems to know. It was a common practice in the early days of television not to credit performers. Often guest actors wouldn't be credited, even if they had significant speaking roles. (Some shows would only credit the regular cast and never the guest actors, even if they were famous). This was often the case when it came to music - even for the singer of the theme song. Since there is no listed person, the true singer is becoming the stuff of legend.

The original poster, user sean_rite5, thought it might be Thurl Ravenscroft, who was famous for being the voice of Tony the Tiger ("It's Greeeeeaaaat!") and the classic song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch". Others think it was Havens Wray, who is credited as the song's composer. User Pelaphus says it was Mike Stewart, who was known for his recording of the album Songs Of The Pogo. Users Whitingfan and Colagada later said it was Bill Lee, who worked with Thurl Ravenscroft in the group The Mellowmen. For what it's worth, Wikipedia also has Bill Lee, but it's uncited.

In other words: we'll probably never know.

(The above is a compilation of previous entries which had become quite a shatter-shot mess. )

(credited to Havens Wray - possibly a pseudonym for David Rose);

Back when the west was very young, / There lived a man named Masterson. / He wore a cane and derby hat, / They called him Bat - Bat Masterson.

A man of steel the stories say / But women's eyes all glanced his way / A gambler's game he always won / His name was Bat - Bat Masterson /

The trail that he blazed is still there. / No one has come since, to replace his name. / And those with too ready a trigger, / Forgot to figure on his lightning cane.

Now in the legend of the West, / One name stands out of all the rest. / The man who had the fastest gun, / His name was Bat - Bat Masterson.