when did rudolph the red-nosed reindeer come out

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is a classic Christmas song that was first recorded in 1949 by Gene Autry. It tells the story of a reindeer with a shiny red nose who is excluded from the other reindeer because of his appearance. Despite his isolation, Rudolph is determined to prove himself and eventually saves Christmas by guiding Santa's sleigh through a thick fog.