Stan Jones composed "Ghost Riders in the Sky" aka "Ghost Riders" aka "Riders in the Sky" aka "A Cowboy Legend" while working for the National Perk Service in Death Valley, California. Stan and the Death Valley Rangers recorded this for Mercury Records in 1948.

Big band leader, actor, singer, host of his own television show and talented trumpeter Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra reached number one with his 1949 cover. You gotta love the backing vocals.