Bob Nolan - Sons of The Pioneers

Sons of The Pioneers

In September 1931, 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, led by a young singer named Leonard Slye—who would later change his name to Roy Rogers. After listening to the tall, slender, tanned Nolan sing and yodel, Slye hired Nolan on the spot. Although he stayed with the group only a short time, he stayed in touch with Slye.

In 1934, Bob Nolan co-founded the Sons of the Pioneers with Roy Rogers and Tim Spencer. The singing group became very popular and produced numerous recordings for Columbia, Decca, and RCA Victor.

The Sons of the Pioneers began performing Nolan's originals songs on a nationally syndicated radio show. "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" became their signature tune and a Western standard, and was one of the first songs the group recorded when it signed with Decca in 1934. In the coming years, The Sons of the Pioneers recorded many other Nolan songs, including "Way Out There", "There's a Roundup in the Sky", "One More Ride", and "Cool Water", which became one of the group's most famous recordings.

In 1935, the Sons of the Pioneers appeared in their first full-length Western movie, The Old Homestead. In 1938, Leonard Slye starred in his own film, took the name Roy Rogers, and left the group to focus on his own career. Bob Nolan became the leader of the Sons of the Pioneers.