Buffalo in Harding County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Tex Fletcher, the "Singing Cowboy"
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 24, 2023
1. Tex Fletcher, the "Singing Cowboy" Marker
Tex Fletcher was a singing cowboy with credits as a recording artist, Broadway and movie actor, night club performer, and radio and television personality.
As a young man he lived in Buffalo, South Dakota, where he picked up some real cowboy skills including riding a horse and handling cattle. He also learned to sing and play a pretty good guitar. While living in Buffalo he soaked up "cowboy lore and campfire songs" which influenced his music.
Fletcher became a prolific songwriter, having penned the cowboy classics, "The Lord is In the Saddle Tonight", "Tipperary (the Great Outlaw Horse)", "My Harding County Home," the closing theme to CBS television's "The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickock", and many others. His songs were covered by such greats as Gene Autry, Ernest Tubb, Lawrence Welk, etc. He was featured in Ripley's "Believe It Or Not" as having the ability to recall from memory more than 4,000 songs. He recorded for numerous record labels and released his last album, "Holiday Hootenanny" in 1964 on his own Dakota Imprint.
Throughout his life, he never lost his love for Harding County and the people who lived there. He honored the people of the area with his song writing ability. Three of the songs he wrote about this area were titled - "My Harding County Home", "Tipperary" (The Great Outlaw Horse), and "Grand River Hymn".
Tex was inducted into the New York State Country Music Hall of Fame in 2003. Tex, whose real name was Geremino "Jerry" Bisceglia, was born January 17, 1909, in Harrison, NY, the 5th of 8 children born to Michael and Josephine Bisceglia, Italian immigrants.
Fletcher entered the US Army, reaching the rank of Sergeant, while serving during World War II. At the end of the war, he married Ada Mae Henkel of Yonkers, NY and started a family of 5 children: Robert, Jayne, Kathy, George and Michael.
this page online
He returned to radio, nightclubs, television, song writing and recording studios. He died March 14, 1987, in Newburgh, NY.
TIPPERARY "The Great Outlaw Horse"
Words and Music by Tex Fletcher
(Dedicated to cowboy Walter Blume of Buffalo, SD who was a part of the era of this great horse.)
Way out in old South Dakota
Where flows the ole River Grand
Once roamed the greatest bronco
Who was known all over this land
CHORUS:
His name was ole TIPPERARY, TIPPERARY of Rodeo fame
The greatest of all the bronc riders
Will never forget that great name.
The Grandstand at Belle Fourche was crowded
'T'was on the Fourth of July
TIPPERARY, the King of the Outlaws
Came out of the chutes on the fly
CHORUS
He went to frog walkin' and buckin'
And then did an old Spanish dance
With a Be Bopp thrown in for good measure
And a quadrille imported from France.
CHORUS
His rider was neatly unloaded;
That Buster was sure badly shook,
And when he came back down from heaven
Tipperary was back in Camp Crook.
CHORUS
His fame had spread o'er this nation
From Buffalo on the banks of the Grande,
To Nome and the big eastern cities,
And the Bighorns way up in Montan'.
CHORUS
The Grand River Hymn
Words and Music by Tex Fletcher
(Dedicated to Father Don Murray, Buffalo, SD)
In the west the sun is sinkin', Soon the stars will be a twinklin'
as I ride the Black Hills trail that leads to home.
And the Mission bells are tollin', where the Ole Grand River's flowin'
and their chimes are callin' sinners to atone.
CHORUS:
I can hear the Padre prayin' to the Big Boss great and fair,
Askin' Him to burn our brands in His tally book up there.
When I cross the Old Grand River, then I'll know my journey's over
and the Mission bells have called a wand'rer home.
Like an angel chorus singin', My silver spurs are jinglin'
to the rhythm of the hoofbeats in the night.
South Dakota stars are shinin', while the Mission bells are chimin',
the word of God out through the pale moonlight.
CHORUS
"My Harding County Home"
Words and Music by Tex Fletcher
(Dedicated to the People of Harding County, SD)
Not so many years ago, I left old Buffalo
The place that I have always loved the best;
Where antelope, they play, I'm yearning today
For MY HARDING COUNTY HOME out in the west.
CHORUS: I can see a mustang band grazing by the River Grand,
I see the range where white-faced cattle roam;
And the lights in Buffalo, will guide me back I know
Guide me back to MY HARDING COUNTY HOME.
As I wander down Broadway, my memory does stray
To the buttes that reach like mountains to the sky;
I can hear a coyote wail as he roams along the trail;
"Come back to your prairie home" is his cry.
CHORUS
Erected by Buffalo
2. Marker detail: Tex Fletcher
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is January 17, 1909.
Location. 45° 34.856′ N, 103° 32.784′ W. Marker is in Buffalo, South Dakota, in Harding County. It can be reached from Theodore Roosevelt Expressway (CanAm Highway) (U.S. 85) just south of Connel Street (State Highway 20), on the left when traveling north. The marker is in Centennial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 91 US Highway 85, Buffalo SD 57720, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sky Ranch for Boys (here, next to this marker); Battle of the Crow Buttes
3. Marker detail: Tex Fletcher
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Also see . . . Tex Fletcher (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: He settled in South Dakota where he learned to handle horse and cattle while soaking up cowboy lore and campfire songs, in effect becoming a "real" cowboy. He returned to New York in the early 1930s and took a radio job as a singing cowboy on WFAS in White Plains, New York.(Submitted on June 23, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)The 1930s proved a busy and productive time for Fletcher, as he appeared on radio, starred on Broadway, starred in two movies, toured the country as a soloist and with a group, played Madison Square Garden, landed a record deal with Decca (that lasted well into the 1950s) and performed for the president
of the United States.
4. Marker detail: Tex Fletcher
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 24, 2023
5. Tex Fletcher, the "Singing Cowboy" Marker
The marker is on the heritage walkway in Centennial Park.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 22, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 19 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 23, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
