tommy Nallie

Lead & harmony vocals / Lead guitar

Tommy’s connection to the group is deep: He served as the band’s “trail boss” for 10 years, taking over the role from his brother Luther who was with the group for over 45 years, and his brother Jack and nephew John are former members of the group.

Tommy grew up in Beaumont, Texas, playing violin (he was the concertmaster of his high school orchestra) and bass in local bands with his brother Luther. After high school, he played around Beaumont with some of the legends of western swing music, including Cliff Bruner and several former members of the Texas Playboys. After a tour of duty in the Navy, Tommy returned to Texas, having added guitar and drums to his resume and picked up right where he left off, touring across the country as a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. When not out on the road, he worked in the recording studio and backing up various Nashville artists.

By this time Tommy was being asked to fill in with the Sons of the Pioneers whenever a member was absent. Then in May1983, Tommy got a call from Luther inviting him to Nashville, where the group was doing a weeklong series of concerts. Dale Warren asked Tommy to take over a set of drums that was on stage during the first show, and by the week’s end, Dale had offered Tommy a position with the Pioneers. Dale and Luther taught Tommy the finer points of the Sons of the Pioneers vocal harmony sound. Tommy also was mentored on the guitar by Roy Lanham, perhaps the group’s best all-time lead guitar player. Tommy says, “It’s difficult to put into words how greatly honored I was to become a part of such a rich and impressive musical tradition.” Over the years Tommy has learned every part to all of the songs in the Pioneers’ repertoire, and now he teaches them to each new member or substitute.

Tommy currently plays lead guitar with the group—the 4th lead guitar player in the groups 91-year history—yodels, sings the vital “middle part” in the vocal trio, and also delivers some vocal solos. He has made his home in several places over the Southwest but now resides Forsyth, Mo.