Bobby Gregory

Bobby Gregory (born Robert Calvin Gregory; April 24, 1900 - May 12, 1971) was an American songwriter, accordionist, composer, author and singer, a former cowboy, lumberjack, sailor, and circus and rodeo musician.

Gregory was a pioneer in radio broadcasting in the early 1920s and, in 1927, became the first country musician, and the first accordionist, to appear on television. Allegedly, he wrote an estimated 10,000 songs, some of which were among the most popular country music when released, others remain unpublished.

Early Life
Gregory was born Robert Calvin Gregory to parents Charles Nicholas and Mary Ella Gregory in a home on Reservoir Street in Staunton, Virginia. He lived there until his parents were divorced when he was 13 years old. After their separation, some members of the family, including Gregory, moved to Nevada.

Despite moving at such a young age, Gregory never forgot Staunton. He found inspiration in his early writing from his memories of the railroad near his childhood home and the Shenandoah Valley.

Career
During his early career, he toured with stage shows, rodeos and vaudeville circuits. Alongside his "Cactus Cowboy Band", Gregory recorded many songs and made eighteen motion pictures. He played the accordion in the film "The Vikings". Some notable musicians he and his band accompanied include Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, the Lone Ranger and Big Slim, "The Lone Cowboy". He published 1,600 songs during his career and appeared in more than twenty movies.

In 1965, Gregory's song "Sunny Side of the Mountain" won an award from ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers).

Personal Life
Gregory married Catherine Schwartz in New York in 1944.

In the 1950s, he opened an art gallery in New York City. He enjoyed painting and collecting art, accumulating pieces from throughout the world, including some from the Vatican. He wrote songs and painted all the way to his death. Several of his paintings were shown at the New York World's Fairy in 1965 and later the Peabody Museum in Nashville.

Gregory died May 12, 1971 in Nashville, Tennessee at Baptist Hospital, he was 71 years old. During the annual ASCAP Country Music Awards show in 1971, a memorial tribute was paid to him.