"Tumbling Tumbleweeds" and "Cool Water" are only a couple of the hundreds of songs created by the Sons of the Pioneers, the most famous singing group in the history of Western music. Charter members Roy Rogers (Len Slye), Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, and brothers Hugh and Karl Farr (two gifted instrumentalists from Texas) developed a unique style of vocal control and harmony that became the group's trademark. During the 1930s and 1940s, the prolific Nolan, along with other members of the Pioneers, composed hundreds of new songs, primarily for film appearances. Although Roy Rogers left the group for movie stardom, the Pioneers appeared with the King of the Cowboys in forty-two films. There were one hundred movie appearances in all, including Rio Grande and The Searchers with John Wayne. Alumni of the Pioneers include Pat Brady, Lloyd Perryman, and Ken Curtis ("Festus" of TV's Gunsmoke), and today the Sons of the Pioneers carry on the long traditions of their group in! Branson, Missouri.
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About the Author
During his long association with the Sons of the Pioneers, Fred Goodwin has amassed the most extensive collection in existence of the group's recordings, photographs, films, movie posters, lobby cards, and memorabilia. Through conversations and correspondence, Fred has become an expert on the background and performances of the Pioneers. He has produced four albums with the group, receiving a Grammy nomination in 1981 for Sons of the Pioneers, Columbia Historical Edition. After serving with the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, Fred majored in finance and economics with a minor in history at Middle Tennessee University. A research specialist and movie/music collector, he is the head of Concept Productions in his hometown, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Bill O'Neal is the author of more than twenty books, including a biography of singing cowboy Tex Ritter. For three years he wrote a monthly column about Western movies for True West magazine. His most recent book is Reel Cowboys. Bill is chairman of the history department at Panola College in Carthage, Texas. His wife, Karon, who is chairman of the Panola College math department, assists with research and manuscript preparation for each of his books.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
About a National Treasure That Has Been Misplaced,
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This review is from: Sons of the Pioneers (Paperback)
This is a solid report on a singing group that played a major role in the western craze of the 1930s and 1940s. Those who remember the Charles Starrett westerns of the 1930s or the Roy Rogers movies of the 1940s, or who purchased DVDs of them, will recall the smooth harmony of the SOPs, as they are known to their fans. Over the years, performers have stepped in to fill the holes left by their retiring brethren, but none can fill the places of Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer, Lloyd Perryman, Hugh Farr and Karl Farr, the members of the group that is highlighted in this book. You learn about each individual and also the many years they spent together.
Each member brought something special to the group beyond their voice--from Bob Nolan's "song poems" to Tim Spencer's business acumen to Lloyd Perryman's ability to defuse disagreements to Hugh Farr, on fiddle, and Karl Farr, on guitar, whose instrumental skill played a key part in the group's sound. If you like western music, pick up an early album of the SOPs from Amazon, then purchase this book to find out more about the men who created that sound--and who wrote many of the western songs that we still hear, like Cool Water and Tumbling Tumbleweed (Bob Nolan) and Blue Prairie (Tim Spencer). Nolan will always be the Stephen Foster of Western Music, with his 2,000 western songs.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Sons of the Pioneers book,
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This review is from: Sons of the Pioneers (Paperback)
I had been looking for a book on the Pioneers for some time. I finally found this on your website and it is a great read on the pioneers; regarded as the greatest country,western singing group of all time. The only thing I am disappointed in is that the book is not available in hardcover. I purchased it for a friend who is a great admirer of The Sons of the Pioneers. I am sure he will really enjoy this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book with many pictures,
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This review is from: Sons of the Pioneers (Paperback)
I had heard of the Sons of the Pioneers but really knew nothing about this group until I read this book.
I found out it was founded by Roy Rogers and two other men, Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer. Both were splendid singers, and song writers. Almost everyone would recognize Bob's "Cool Water" and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds". Their harmonies were unique to this group of singers of Western songs. Fortunately, many of their original songs were recorded and are still available. They also appeared in many Western movies and TV series with Roy Rogers or Charles Starrett. This book offers many producion pictures from the movies in addition to lots of information. The only sad thing about this is that all of these wonderful voices have been stilled forever.
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