Biography
Lester Alvin Burnette, 18 March 1911, Summum, Illinois, USA, d. 16 February 1967, Encino, California, USA. Although making his name as the cowboy star’s ‘sidekick’, Burnette was a talented musician, who played over 50 musical instruments, ranging from harmonica to organ, proficiently (he could also play basic tunes on 50 more, some being of his own invention). He had his own band at Astoria High School, and in the early 30s, he performed a one-man vaudeville act and worked on the WDZ Tuscola radio station. In 1933, he played accordion on WLS Chicago’s National Barn Dance with Gene Autry and moved to Hollywood with Autry the following year. He first appeared with Autry inIn Old Santa Fe, which starred Ken Maynard, before appearing with Autry in thePhantom Empire series. He went on (with his horse, Nellie) to appear in over 80 B-movie westerns with Autry (as Frog Millhouse), seven with Roy Rogers (including Rogers’ first starring role) and...
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