Canadian, six feet
one, genial Donn Reynolds, "King of the Yodelers", was born in Western
Canada June 26, 1921.
At the age of 10,
he picked up his first guitar, and by 14, he turned professional as
"The Yodeling Ranger". This was the beginning of a long prosperous
career that was to bring Donn world renown for his style and presentation
of the western song.
Donn was the former
International Yodel Champion, winning the title at the Pacific National
Exhibition in 1950. In 1956 he won the United States Yodeling
Championship in Washington DC, claiming the title "World's Champion
Yodeler".
A star of song and
screen, Donn released many recordings on MGM, Columbia, and RCA
labels including several worldwide hit singles. He performed on countless
stages and television shows worldwide including the Grand Ole Opry,
Bavarian Opry, Louisiana Hayride, WLS National Barn Dance, El Circo
De Madrid, WWVA Jamboree, and KRLD Big "D" Jamboree. His friends include
the likes of Hank Snow, Peggy Lee, Roy Rogers, Marty Robbins, Ray Price,
Roy Clark, and Buck Owens. His acting credits include the films Eureka
Stockade (1949), Arena (1953), and the lead role as Davy Crockett in
the British musical.
Though Donn, for most
of his career, was a solo performer, he teamed up in the latter years
with his wife Cindy as a husband and wife duet. The couple commenced
a worldwide tour together including performances throughout England,
Europe and the Middle East. They appeared in the United States and Canada
on many top TV shows, performed before royalty, and played almost every
major night club in Canada from coast-to-coast.
In 1978 Donn set the world record for the longest yodel by yodeling
non-stop for 7 hours and 29 minutes. In 1984 he established a world
record for the fastest yodel by achieving five tones (three falsetto)
in 1.9 seconds...achievements that earned him fame in both the Guinness
Book of World Records and Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Donn Reynolds
June 26, 1921 - August 16, 1997
In loving memory
of a world class entertainer,
husband, father, and grandfather.