Esteemed trail boss tommy nallie passes away, leaving huge musical legacy

We are heartbroken to announce that Tommy Nallie, the Sons of the Pioneers affable and passionate former trail boss who extended the group’s legacy into a tenth decade, died Aug. 4 of prostate cancer at Cox Medical Center in Branson, Missouri. He was 77.

Nallie, born in Beaumont, Texas, in 1947, first joined the group in 1983 and represented the last of the hugely talented Nallie family dynasty that was a vital part of the Pioneers’ success since 1969, when his older brother Luther Nallie joined. Tommy took over as the group’s fourth trail boss in 2015, when Luther stepped down. Tommy recently handed the role of trail boss to fellow Pioneer John Fullerton.

A fine tenor singer, Nallie was also talented on guitar, bass, violin, drums, and other instruments, and his deep knowledge of the Pioneers’ musical catalog and intricate harmony arrangements provided a strong backbone for the group as it traversed a modern musical landscape. As a tireless leader, he was committed to keeping the group’s legacy alive and preserving the traditional “Pioneer sound.”

Services and burial will be in Bridgeport, Texas, and a memorial is being planned for a later date in Branson.

We thank Tommy for his stewardship, his passion, his talent, and his friendship. He was a lovable leader, and we will miss him deeply. Godspeed, Tommy.

celebrating MORE THAN 91 Years in the Saddle!

Kick up your boot heels and jangle your spurs with us! This year, the Sons of the Pioneers celebrate an unparalleled milestone: more than 91 unbroken years of best-in-the-West entertainment. It’s enough to make our heads spin like we’re trying to stay on ol’ Skyball Paint.

In late 1933, three talented musicians (including the man who would soon become Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys) were introduced on a Los Angeles radio station as the Sons of the Pioneers. Little did those young men know they were launching a juggernaut that would somehow survive the Great Depression, World War II, the advent of television, space travel, Elvis’s hips and rock ‘n’ roll, the Internet, the tech revolution, and a global pandemic.

Over the years the group’s myriad achievements in radio, movies, television, recordings, and on stage have been fueled by a steady rotation of now more than 40 talented musicians. The current group—Tommy Nallie, Ken Lattimore, John Fullerton, Paul Elliott, and Chuck Ervin—are proud to continue the Pioneer tradition and don’t take the responsibility lightly.

Tommy, who first signed on in 1983 and is now the group’s fourth trail boss, is committed to keeping those signature Pioneer harmonies pure and the musicianship top-notch. Most important, he says, is keeping the Pioneers’ musical campfire burning bright for years to come. “Ninety years is a mighty good run, but I’m betting 100 is gonna be even better!”

Meet the Sons of the pioneers

In this short video we talk a little bit about how this music developed, what makes it unique, and what this legacy means to us. Enjoy!

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