Texas Golf Hall of Famer Don Cherry is still swinging and singing.

In an era of rap music with lyrics that you can’t (or don’t want to) understand, the voice of Don Cherry is a breath of fresh air from days gone by.

And in an era of golfers who drink milk, work out every day, and consistently tiptoe down the company line whenever they speak, Cherry is a throwback to the more carefree lifestyle on the pro tour, when golfers truly lived and enjoyed life to the fullest. Cherry, 81, is unknown to most people under age 50. But his story is worth repeating.

Cherry has been blessed with the unique combination of a beautiful golf swing, a beautiful baritone voice, and the ability to make friends with everyone he meets. The Wichita Falls native was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 1995 along with former President George H.W. Bush, joining such Texas golf legends as Jimmy Demaret, Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson, Jackie Burke, Lee Trevino, Tommy Bolt, Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite.

Cherry is the only person in history to have a million-selling hit record (Band Of Gold in 1954) and a Top 10 finish in the U.S. Open. Elvis Presley, in fact, considered Cherry one of his favorite singers along with Jerry Vale. Cherry was also an early favorite of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.

While many consider Bing Crosby to have been the best singer/golfer, historians acknowledge that honor belonged to Cherry even though he never achieved superstar status in either profession.

As a young teen, Cherry shagged balls for Demaret, often catching them in midair with his bare hands. He helped his family earn a living by working as a caddie during the day and delivering singing telegrams for Western Union at night. Little did he realize that he would eventually make money at both golf and music - and the two skills were inseparable in his life story.

“Golf was something I could play very simply,” Cherry says. “Golf is a game where the only opponent you have is yourself. The only thing you’re playing is that grass and that dirt. It never moves. Golf is 90 percent mental. It really is.”

As a singer, Don’s television appearances include the Dean Martin Show, Joey Bishop Show, Dick Clark Show, Ed Sullivan Show, Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, Jack Paar Show, Arthur Godfrey Show. Merv Griffin Show. Mike Douglas Show, Mike Wallace Show, Hee Haw and Nashville Now. His biggest hit, Band of Gold, put him on the music map, but his biggest payday ($800,000) was as the voice of the Mr. Clean commercials during the 1950s and ‘60s.

On the golf course, Cherry had a sweet, natural swing and a volcanic temper (“I made Tommy Bolt look like a choir boy!” he once said). But in less than nine years as an amateur, Cherry won 24 titles, earned 90 amateur trophies, played on three U.S. Walker Cup teams and made 30 holes-in-one. He didn’t turn pro until the age of 38, and played in nine Masters and eight U.S. Opens.

In the 1960 U.S. Open, Cherry was a key player in what some consider Golf’s Greatest Championship because it helped spark a baby boom generation of golf fans. That was the year Arnold Palmer made the biggest final-round comeback in open history, making birdies on six of the last seven holes at Cherry Hills to shooting a 65 to defeat amateur Jack Nicklaus by two shots. Cherry finished tied for ninth, four shots back. On tour, Cherry was able to combine both of his skills, playing golf by day, and singing and playing the piano by night.

His love of golf and singing/entertaining helped him create a long list of friends over the years from both professions. Among his best friends were Dean Martin, whom he met on the golf course in Las Vegas one morning and immediately hit it off. They ended up working the me Las Vegas nightclubs together, with Martin performing in the main room and Cherry performing in a secondary venue. Cherry ended up working every room in Vegas, and also once served as casino host/director of golf at the Riviera Hotel.

Cherry’s new biography tentatively titled, Cherry’s Jubilee: I Never Played The Game, will be published soon. The book promises to contain lots of colorful stories of friends Dean Martin, Phil Harris, Mickey Mantle, Buddy Hackett and others.