Stan Jones, a multi-talented individual, was born on June 5, 1914, in Douglas, Arizona. Growing up, he developed essential skills, including horse riding, singing, and playing the guitar, which would later prove valuable in his life.
After his father's passing, Stan's family relocated to Los Angeles, where he attended the University of California, Berkeley, for a brief period. To supplement his income, he began competing in rodeos, a passion that continued throughout his life.
Stan's college days were cut short in 1934 when he joined the navy. Following his discharge, he held various jobs across the country, including working as a copper miner, logger, and snowplow driver. His next career move was as a firefighter for the US Forest Service, eventually becoming a Forest Ranger and being assigned to different national parks in the western United States.
While stationed in Death Valley, California, in 1948, Stan was appointed as the technical advisor for the western film "The Walking Hills" (1949). During downtime, he would play his original songs for the cast and crew, who encouraged him to pursue publishing his compositions.
Stan's big break came when his song "Riders in the Sky" was picked up by Columbia Records and recorded by folk singer Burl Ives. The song's popularity led to recordings by Bing Crosby and Vaughn Monroe, whose version became a major hit. This success sparked Stan's music career, with his songs being featured in numerous films, including westerns directed by John Ford.
Stan's work in the entertainment industry continued to flourish, with his songs being used in several more films. He also collaborated with actor Harry Carey Jr. on the TV series "The Adventures of Spin and Marty" (1955),writing all the songs for the first two seasons.
Stan's association with Walt Disney led to his involvement in several Disney projects, including the soundtracks for various films and the theme song for the western series "Cheyenne" (1955). He also worked on the TV series "The Sheriff of Cochise" (1956),playing the role of Deputy Olson and writing the theme song and episodes.
Stan's last film appearance was in "Ten Who Dared" (1960). He passed away in Los Angeles, California, in 1963.
