Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer — Lyrics, History & Fun Facts

The History of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

The character of Rudolph was created in 1939 by Robert L. May, a copywriter at Montgomery Ward, for a Christmas coloring book giveaway. May's brother-in-law, songwriter Johnny Marks, adapted the story into a song in 1949, and Gene Autry's recording became an instant hit, selling 2.5 million copies in its first year alone. The song went on to become the second best-selling single in history, behind only White Christmas. The beloved 1964 Rankin/Bass stop-motion television special further cemented Rudolph's place as one of the most iconic Christmas characters of all time.

Fun Facts About "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

• Rudolph was originally created for a Montgomery Ward coloring book in 1939
• Gene Autry's wife convinced him to record the song after he initially turned it down
• It sold 2.5 million copies in its first year of release
• The song is the second best-selling single of all time after White Christmas
• Robert L. May nearly named the reindeer 'Rollo' or 'Reginald' before choosing 'Rudolph'

Movies & TV Appearances

"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" has been featured in the following movies and television specials:

• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
• Elf
• Frozen

Listen to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"

You can listen to "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music. Search for the original version by Gene Autry or explore the many popular covers recorded over the years.