Gene Austin

Biography

Gene Austin was a singer, songwriter ("When My Sugar Walks Down the Street") and author, educated at Baltimore University. He served in the US Army in 1916 with the Mexican Punitive Expedition, then in World War I. He sang in theaters, vaudeville, radio, television and films, and made many recordings. He joined ASCAP in 1925 and his chief musical collaborators include Jimmy McHugh, Roy Bergere and Nathaniel Shilkret. His other popular song compositions include "The Lonesome Road", "How Come You Do Me Like You Do?", "Please Come Back to Me", "Ridin' Around in the Rain", "Whippoorwill, Go Tell My Honey that I Love Her", "Take Your Shoes Off, Baby".