AllMovie

Born in Cincinnati, singing actor John King briefly attended that city's university before embarking upon a series of manual-labor jobs. By the time he was in his early twenties, King was working as a radio announcer and vocalist at Cincinnati stations WCKY and WKRC. He was hired as a singer for Ben Bernie's orchestra, and in that capacity made his film debut in a musical two-reeler. Signed to a Universal studio contract in 1935, he played the title character in the popular serial Ace Drummond (1936), and essayed utility roles in features. King switched to Monogram Pictures in 1940, where he became a western star, adopting the nom de film of John "Dusty" King. In 1942 he replaced Bob Livingston in Monogram's Range Busters series, serving as the studio's resident singing cowboy. Retiring from films in 1946, John "Dusty" King spent his retirement managing a California waffle shop.