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Sons of the Pioneers

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For the film, see Sons of the Pioneers (film).
Sons of the Pioneers
Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers in Rainbow Over Texas (1946)
Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers in Rainbow Over Texas (1946)
Background information
GenresCountry, Western
Years active1933–present
LabelsDecca, RCA Victor, Vocalion
Past members See the Timeline section
WebsiteOfficial website

The Sons of the Pioneers are one of the United States' earliest Western singing groups.[1] Known for their vocal performances, their musicianship, and their songwriting,[2] they produced innovative recordings that have inspired many Western music performers and remained popular through the years.[3] Since 1933, through many changes in membership, the Sons of the Pioneers have remained one of the longest-surviving country music vocal groups.[4]

Origins

In the spring of 1931, Ohio-born Leonard Slye—the cowboy singer who would later change his name to Roy Rogers—arrived in California and found work as a truck driver, and later as a fruit picker for the Del Monte company in California's Central Valley. He entered an amateur singing contest on a Los Angeles radio show called Midnight Frolics and a few days later got an invitation to join a group called the Rocky Mountaineers.[5]

In September 1931, Canadian-born Bob Nolan answered a classified ad in the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner that read, "Yodeler for old-time act, to travel. Tenor preferred." The band was The Rocky Mountaineers, by then led by Leonard Slye. After listening to the tall, slender, tanned Nolan sing and yodel, Slye hired Nolan on the spot. Although Nolan stayed with the group only a short time, he stayed in touch with Slye. Nolan was replaced by Tim Spencer, who had been working in a Safeway Stores warehouse.[4]

In the spring of 1932, Slye, Spencer, and another singer, Slumber Nichols, left the Rocky Mountaineers to form a trio, which soon failed. Throughout most of 1932, Slye and Spencer moved through a series of short-lived groups like the International Cowboys and the O-Bar-O Cowboys. Spencer left the O-Bar-O Cowboys and quit music for a while. Slye joined Jack LeFevre and His Texas Outlaws, who were a popular act on a local Los Angeles radio station.[6]

In early 1933, Slye, Nolan, and Spencer formed a group called the Pioneer Trio. The three young singers rehearsed for weeks honing their singing. While Slye continued to work with his radio singing group, Spencer and Nolan began writing songs for the group.[4]

Early success

By early 1934, the group consisted of Leonard Slye, Bob Nolan, and Tim Spencer on vocals, with Nolan playing string bass and Slye playing rhythm guitar. During that time, fiddle player Hugh Farr joined the group, adding a bass voice to the group's vocal arrangements. He also sang lead on some songs. Later that year, the "Pioneers Trio" became the "Sons of the Pioneers" through a radio station announcer's chance remark. Asked why he'd changed their name, the announcer said they were too young to have been pioneers, but that they could be sons of pioneers. The name was received well and fit the group, who were no longer a trio.[4]

By the summer of 1934, the Sons of the Pioneers' popularity and fame extended beyond the Los Angeles area and quickly spread across the United States through short syndicated radio segments that were rebroadcast all over the country. They signed a recording contract with the newly founded Decca label, and on August 8, 1934, the Sons of the Pioneers made their first commercial recording. That same day, the immensely popular crooner Bing Crosby also made his first Decca session.[4]

One of the first songs recorded by the Sons of the Pioneers during that first August session was written by Bob Nolan, "Tumbling Tumbleweeds", that would soon become a staple in their repertoire. The original title "Tumbling Leaves" was changed to give the song a western character. Over the next two years the group would record 32 songs for Decca.[7] Their output includes a 1937 recording of "The Blue Juniata," by Marion Dix Sullivan,.

Film and television career

Between 1935 and 1984, the Sons of the Pioneers appeared in 87 films, several movie shorts, and a television series.[8] In 1937, the Sons Of The Pioneers signed a deal with Columbia Pictures to appear in a number of movies. In 1938, Leonard Slye was offered a contract as an actor with rival Republic Pictures. Part of that deal required him to officially leave the group. Leonard Slye changed his name to Roy Rogers, and went on to achieve major success as a singing cowboy in the movies. Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers still remained close throughout the coming years. When their contract with Columbia Pictures ended, they signed a new contract with Republic Pictures to be with Roy. They were soon appearing as highly popular supporting players in many of Roy Rogers' movies.[9]

In addition to their appearances and filmed performances, their music was used in numerous other films and television shows. They recorded songs for the John Ford movies Wagon Master in 1949 and Rio Grande in 1950, and performed the theme song for the John Ford classic The Searchers in 1956. "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" was used in the Coen Brothers film The Big Lebowski in 1998.

Passing of an era

In 1971, Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer were both elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 1972, most of the surviving members of the Sons of the Pioneers, including the original Pioneer Trio of Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan, and Tim Spencer, gathered at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles for one last performance. In 1980, the Sons of the Pioneers were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

In 1979, Bob Nolan returned to the studio for the final time and recorded a successful solo album of classics and newer compositions titled Bob Nolan – The Sound of a Pioneer.

The late 1970s saw the passing of an era, as many of the founding members of the group died. Tim Spencer died on April 26, 1976. Lloyd Perryman, who had been with the group since 1936, died on May 31, 1977. Hugh Farr, who had retired from the group in 1958, died on April 17, 1980. Bob Nolan died on June 16, 1980.

Sons of the Pioneers today

Following the death of Lloyd Perryman in 1977, Dale Warren, who had joined the group in 1952 and continued on until his death on August 8, 2008, took over the leadership of the Sons of the Pioneers, guiding them into the 2000s. They continued to perform in concert and recorded as well with a lineup that featured, amongst many others, Luther Nallie (guitar, vocals), Rusty Richards (vocals), Doye O'Dell (guitar, vocals), Billy Armstrong (fiddle), Billy Liebert (accordion), Gary LeMaster (lead guitar)and Rome Johnson (vocals).[4]

The current "Trail Boss" of the Sons of the Pioneers is Tommy Nallie (guitar, yodels, harmony vocals), who joined the group in 1983. Other current band members are Ken Lattimore (tenor vocals, fiddle), Randy Rudd (lead vocals, guitar, MC), Mark Abbott (bass vocals, bass), and Justin Branum (fiddle, mandolin). In 2001, a book about the group was published, titled The Sons of the Pioneers by Bill O'Neal and Fred Goodwin.[10] Another book about the group, first published in 1974, is called Hear My Song, The Story of the Celebrated Sons of the Pioneers by Ken Griffis, and is available on The Pioneers' website.

Legacy

In 1977, the Smithsonian Institution, which designates certain artists and performers who have made a noteworthy contribution to the arts and culture of America, named the Sons of the Pioneers as "National Treasures".[11]

In 1995, the Sons of the Pioneers were inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

The Sons of the Pioneers were the first Country and Western group to sing at Carnegie Hall, and the first to perform at the lavish nightclubs in Las Vegas.[12] The group has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6845 Hollywood Blvd. for recording.

Timeline

Since 1933, 43 singers and musicians have been official members of the Sons of the Pioneers.[4]

  1. Roy Rogers (as Leonard Slye) (1933–37) lead vocals, guitar
  2. Bob Nolan (1933–49) baritone vocals, bass
  3. Tim Spencer (1933–36, 1938–49) tenor and lead vocals
  4. Hugh Farr (1934–59) bass vocals, fiddle
  5. Karl Farr (1935–61) lead guitar
  6. Lloyd Perryman (1936–43, 1946–77) tenor and lead vocals, guitar, 1st Trail Boss
  7. Pat Brady (1937–43, 1946–49, 1959–68) bass
  8. Ken Carson (1943–47) tenor vocals, guitar
  9. Deuce Spriggens (1943, 1954–55) bass
  10. Shug Fisher (1944–46, 1949–53, 1956–59) bass
  11. Ken Curtis (1949–53) lead vocals
  12. Tommy Doss (1949–63) baritone vocals
  13. Dale Warren (1952–2008) lead and baritone vocals, bass, 2nd Trail Boss
  14. George Bamby (1959–60) accordion
  15. Roy Lanham (1961–86) lead guitar
  16. Wade Ray (1961–62) fiddle
  17. Rusty Richards (1963–66, 1974–84)
  18. Billy Armstrong (1966–72) fiddle
  19. Bob Minser (1967–68) tenor vocals, bass
  20. Luther Nallie (1968–74, 1980–2004, 2007–2014) vocals, guitar, bass, 3rd Trail Boss
  21. Billy Liebert (1974–80) accordion, arranger
  22. Rome Johnson (1970's) vocals, guitar
  23. Doc Denning (1980) fiddle
  24. Dale Morris (1981–83) fiddle
  25. Tommy Nallie (1983–88, 2012-present) vocals, guitar, 4th Trail Boss
  26. Sunny Spencer (1984–2005) vocals, multi-instrumentalist
  27. Jack Nallie (1984) bass
  28. Jack LaRoux (1985) bass
  29. Gary Foster (1986) bass
  30. Gary LeMaster (1986–2006, 2008–12) tenor vocals, lead guitar
  31. Daryl Wainscott (1987–93) keyboards
  32. David Bradley (1989–93) vocals, guitar
  33. John Nallie (1993–2000) lead vocals, keyboards, drums
  34. Roy Warhurst (1994–97) fiddle
  35. Ken Lattimore (1998–present) tenor vocals, fiddle
  36. Randy Rudd (2001–present) lead vocals, guitar, MC
  37. Preston Eldridge (2001–06) bass
  38. Jarrett Dougherty (2001–02) drums, comedy
  39. Waylon Herron (2004–06) vocals, guitar
  40. Justin Sifford (2006) vocals, guitar
  41. Ricky Boen (2006–2014) fiddle
  42. Mark Abbott (2006–present) bass vocals, bass
  43. Justin Branum (2016-present) fiddle, mandolin

[4]

Honors and awards

Selected discography

Albums

  • Cowboy Classics (1952)
  • Cowboy Hymns and Spirituals (1952)
  • Western Classics (1953)
  • Favorite Cowboy Songs (1955)
  • 25 Favorite Cowboy Songs (1955)
  • Twenty-Five Favorite Cowboy Songs (1956)
  • How Great Thou Art (1957)
  • One Man's Songs (1957)
  • Wagons West (RCA Camden, 1958)
  • Cool Water (RCA Victor, 1959)
  • Room Full of Roses (1960)
  • Westwood Ho! (1961)
  • Lure of the West (1961)
  • Tumbleweed Trails (1962)
  • Our Men out West (1963)
  • Good Old Country Music (Delta Records, 1963)
  • The Sons of the Pioneers Sing Hymns of the Cowboy (1963)
  • Hymns of the Cowboy (1963)
  • Trail Dust (1963)
  • Country Fare (1964)
  • Tumbleweed Trails (Vocalion, 1964)
  • Sons of the Pioneers Best (1964)
  • Down Memory Trail (1964)
  • Legends of the West (1965)
  • The Best of the Sons of the Pioneers (1966)
  • The Songs of Bob Nolan (1966)
  • Campfire Favorites (1967)
  • South of the Border (1968)
  • San Antonio Rose & Other Country Favorites (1968)
  • San Antonio Rose (Delta Records, 1968)
  • The Sons of the Pioneers Visit the South Seas (1969)
  • Riders in the Sky (1973)
  • A Country-Western Songbook (1977)
  • Let's Go West Again (1981)
  • Columbia Historic Edition (Columbia, 1982)
  • Twenty of the Best (1985)
  • Tumbling Tumbleweeds (MCA, 1986)
  • Teardrops in My Heaven (1987)
  • Land Beyond the Sund (1987)
  • A Hundred and Sixty Acres (1987)
  • Tumbling Tumbleweeds (Universal Special Products, 1987)
  • Collection, Vol. 1 (Bear Family Records, 1987)
  • Collection, Vol. 2 (Bear Family Records, 1987)
  • Collection, Vol. 3 (Bear Family Records, 1987)
  • Collection, Vol. 4 (Bear Family Records, 1987)
  • Tumbling Tumbleweeds (RCA, 1989)
  • Sunset on the Range (Pair, 1990)
  • Empty Saddles (1990)
  • The Sons of the Pioneers (RCA, 1977)
  • Country & Western Memories (Pair, 1991)
  • Country Music Hall of Fame (MCA, 1991)
  • Songs of the Trail (Pair, 1991)
  • Our Best to You (1999)
  • Tumbling Tumbleweeds (Country Stars, 1999)
  • Teleways Transcriptions (Soundies, 1999)
  • Symphonies of the Sage (Bloodshot, 2001)
  • The Essential Collection (South Side Phunk, 2002)
  • Memories of the Lucky U Ranch (Jasmine, 2002)
  • Cigareets, Whusky...And Cool, Cool Water (ASV, 2002)
  • The Sons of the Pioneers: Ultimate Collection (Hip-O, 2002)
  • The Essential Collection (Varèse Sarabande, 2003)
  • RCA Country Legends (Sony Music Entertainment, 2004)
  • Classic Western Harmony, Vol. 2 (2005)
  • Under Western Skies (Varèse Sarabande, 2005)
  • My Saddle Pals and I (USD, 2005)
  • Classic Cowboy Songs (Varèse Sarabande, 2006)
  • The Republic Years (Varèse Sarabande, 2006)
  • Western Hymns and Spirituals (Varèse Sarabande, 2008)
  • Way Out There: The Complete Recordings 1934-1943 (BFR, 2009)
  • Cigareets, Whusky...And Cool, Cool Water (USD, 2010)
  • Sing the Stephen Foster Songbook (Varèse Sarabande, 2010)[14]

Singles

Year Single Chart Positions
US Country US CAN Country
1945 "Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima" 4 — —
1946 "No One to Cry To" 6 — —
1947 "Baby Doll" 5 — —
"Cool Water" 4 — —
"Cigareetes, Whusky, and Wild, Wild Women" 5 — —
"Teardrops in My Heart" 4 — —
1948 "Blue Shadows on the Trail" (with Roy Rogers) 6 — —
"(There'll Never Be Another) Pecos Bill" (with Roy Rogers) 13 — —
"Tumbling Tumbleweeds" 11 — —
"Cool Water" 7 — —
1949 "My Best to You" 12 — —
"Room Full of Roses" 10 26 —
1955 "The Ballad Of Davy Crocket" — — —
1957 "High Ridin' Woman" — — —
1976 "Cool Water" — — 34
1980 "Ride Concrete Cowboy, Ride" (with Roy Rogers) 80 — —

Filmography

References

  1. ^ "Sons of the Pioneers". Country Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  2. ^ Green, Douglas B. (2002). Singing in the Saddle: The History of the Singing Cowboy. Nashville: Vanderbilt University Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-826-51412-7.
  3. ^ "Sons of the Pioneers". AllMusic. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "About the Sons of the Pioneers". Country Music Television. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  5. ^ Green 2002, p. 74.
  6. ^ Green 2002, p. 75.
  7. ^ "Sons of the Pioneers". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Sons of the Pioneers". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  9. ^ "Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers". Roy Rogers World. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  10. ^ "Members". Sons of the Pioneers. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  11. ^ "Sons of the Pioneers". Grand Ole Opry. Retrieved August 26, 2011.
  12. ^ Forsythe, Wayne. "The Sons of the Pioneers" in Country Music, April 1975.
  13. ^ "Sons of the Pioneers Awards". Sons of the Pioneers. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
  14. ^ "Sons of the Pioneers Albums". Country Music Television. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
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