A Question About Buck Owens

[Erv Niehaus]

The song, "Ridin' Down The Canyon" indicates that it was cowritten by Gene Autry & Smiley Burnett.

Here is how that came about:
While driving across Arizona on their way to California,
Smiley asks Gene: "Ya want to buy a song?"
Gene says, "Well, let's hear it!"
Smiley answers, "I ain't wrote it yet!"
Gene replies, "Well, what I'm I doing here
buying a Pig in a Poke?"
Smitey retorts, "No, it will be a good one!"

Smiley procees to write the song on the back of a magazine. In the next town they come to, they have someone put it to music. He sold it to Gene for five dollars.
This song is currently in The United States Congressional Hall of Fame as being one of the top 10 most beautiful ballads.