Guest Performance on Other Programs

in addition to radio programs such as 10-2-4 Ranch and Lucky U Ranch where the Sons of the Pioneers were part of the regular cast, they made appearances on many other shows. Similarly, in addition to transcription recordings that were devoted to the group such as Symphonies of the Sage they also made transcription recordings with other artists. Below is our current list. As always, if you have corrections or additional information, we’d love to hear from you.

The American Melody Hour

The American Melody Hour was designed as a musical variety show. The program showcased a half-hour of playing and singing “the tunes of yesterday and tomorrow…” mostly sung by Bob Hannon. The program featured a cast of regular performers in addition to guests, including, on two occasions, the Sons of the Pioneers.

Melody Hour January 3, 1949

Melody Hour February 28, 1949

Armed Forces Radio Service

As early as 1940 the War Department was using short-wave radio broadcasts to inform and educate Americans overseas. In 1941 entertainment was added the mix. Departing troops were issued "B" kits ("B" for "Buddy") that consisted of radios, phonographs, 10-inch shellac 78-rpm phonograph records and 12-inch 33-rpm transcription discs of popular radio shows. Within 3 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the War Department began producing original variety shows to beef-up troop morale beginning with Command Performance. Command Performance had an interesting purpose. The enlisted men would request entertainers they wanted to hear, and the artists were commanded to record a show for them. The Sons of the Pioneers gave of their talent freely and gladly to do what they could to encourage and support the men who were fighting for them.

The Armed Forces Radio Services was formally established 26 May 1942 to generate additional programming for the troops. Initially AFRS programming included mostly transcribed commercial network radio shows such as the Kraft Music Hall with the commercials removed. Soon numerous original AFRS programs such as Mail Call were added to the mix. At its peak in 1945 the AFRS was generating about 20 hours of original programming each week. The AFRS could command the services of the best writers and performers without regard to their network or studio contractual obligations. It was on Command Performance, for example, that the Sons of the Pioneers were paired in song with Frank Sinatra. And the AFRS got these services for free. These programs were broadcast to the troops overseas, and usually were not heard by Americans at home.
— From “Command Performance USA!” A Discography compiled by Harry MacKenzie, Greenwood Press, 1996 and “Brass Button Broadcasters” by Trent Christman, Turner Publishing, 1992.

Sons of the Pioneers
The Armed Forces Radio Service Basic Musical Library: War Department
Volume No. (W)5-6. Transcription Disc TR-874

Side One: Volume No. W-5. Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:1. "Don't You Wish You Had Some," Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:2. "So Long to the Red River Valley," Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:3. "Texas Crap Shooter," Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:4. "Tumbleweed Trail," Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:5. "Ridin' On the Sunshine Trail," (Tim Spencer) Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side Two: Volume No. W-6. Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 2:1. "Yippi Yi," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 2:2. "Happy Cowboy," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 2:3. "Trail Herdin' Cowboy," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 2:4. "Coyote Serenade," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 2:5. "Rocky Mountain Express," Sons of the Pioneers.

Sons of the Pioneers with Eddie Arnold and His Tennessee Playboys and Montana Slim with the Buchanan Brothers
Armed Forces Radio Service Basic Musical Library: War and Navy Departments
Volume No. (W)63-64 Transcription Disc TR-875

Side One: Program No. W-63. Sons of the Pioneers with Eddie Arnold and his Tennessee Playboys.

Side 1:1. "Forgive and Forget," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:2. "The Timber Trail," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:3. "Many Tears Ago," Eddie Arnold.

Side 1:4. "You Must Walk the Line," Eddie Arnold.

Side Two: Program No. W-64. Montana Slim with the Buchanan Brothers.

Side 2:1. "Memories That Never Die," Montana Slim.

Side 2:2. "May Be Wrong," Montana Slim.

Side 2:3. "The Bottom Fell Out of the Sky," Buchanan Brothers.

Side 2:4. "Hurry, Johnny, Hurry," Buchanan Brothers.

Edgar Bergen and Charly McCarthy Show

On December 7, 1947, Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers were guests on the Chase and Sanborn Edgar Bergen Show.

Roy and the Pioneers appear 13:56 minutes into the program.

Here's to Veterans

The Sons of the Pioneers (and other artists) appeared on a series of programs sponsored by the government to inform returning veterans of their rights under the GI Bill - "Here's to Veterans". The group did not appear; one of them would talk about GI rights and then play one of their recordings. These programs continued into, possibly, 1952.

These were a series of broadcasts presented by the US Navy Recruiting Service from 1958. The programs featured a variety of well-known country music performers.

Navy Country Hoedown. Program No. 55-56. Transcription Disc TR-876

Side One: Program No. 55. Master of Ceremonies: Tex Williams. Guest: Carolina Cotton.

Side Two: Program No. 56. Master of Ceremonies: Rex Allen. Guest: Sons of the Pioneers.

Navy Country Hoedown. Program No. 67-68. Transcription Disc TR-877

Side One: Program No. 67. Master of Ceremonies: Rex Allen. Guest: Sons of the Pioneers.

Side Two: Program No. 68. Master of Ceremonies: Faron Young. Guest: Sons of the Pioneers.

Navy Country Hoedown. Program No. 85-86. Transcription Disc TR-878

Side One: Program No. 85. Master of Ceremonies: Tex Williams. Guest: Rex Allen.

Side Two: Program No. 86. Master of Ceremonies: Rex Allen. Guest: Sons of the Pioneers.

Navy Country Hoedown. Program No. 101-102. Transcription Disc TR-879

Side One: Program No. 101. Master of Ceremonies: Rex Allen. Guest: Sons of the Pioneers.

Side Two: Program No. 102. Master of Ceremonies: Spade Cooley. Guest: Ferlin Husky and Faron Young.

RCA Thesaurus transcriptions - Allen Roth

Sons of the Pioneers and Allen Roth
RCA Thesaurus Orthacoustic. Transcription Disc TR-870

Side One: Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:1. "Hill Country," (Glenn Spencer) Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:2. "Blue Mountain Sweetheart," Lloyd Perryman and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:3. "When the Moon Comes Over Sun Valley," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:4. "Whoopee Ti Yi Yo," Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:5. "A Cowboy's Prayer," Lloyd Perryman.

Side Two: Allen Roth Theme.

Side 2:1. Opening (Local Announcer and Allen Roth).

Side 2:2. Opening (Local Announcer and Allen Roth).

Side 2:3. Opening (Local Announcer and Allen Roth).

Side 2:4. Opening (Local Announcer and Allen Roth).

Side 2:5. Closing (Allen Roth).

Side 2:6. Closing (Allen Roth).

Side 2:7. Closing (Allen Roth).

Side 2:8. Closing (Allen Roth).

RCA Thesaurus transcriptions - Wayne King

Sons of the Pioneers and the Wayne King Orchestra
RCA Thesaurus Orthacoustic. Transcription Disc TR-871

Side One: Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:1. "Silver Threads Among the Gold," (Eben E. Rexford/Hart Pease Danks)

Lloyd Perryman and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:2. "Hard Times, Come Again No More," (Stephen Foster. Lloyd Perryman and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:3. "With Someone Like You," Lloyd Perryman and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:4. ""A" Rag," Hugh Farr.

Side 1:5. "Fire Alarm Blues," Karl Farr.

Side 1:6. "Tom and Jerry," Hugh Farr.

Side Two: Wayne King Orchestra.

Side 2:1. "A Kiss in the Dark," Wayne King Orchestra.

Side 2:2. "Broken Melody," Wayne King Orchestra.

Side 2:3. "Where or When," Wayne King Orchestra.

Side 2:4. "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles," Wayne King Orchestra.

Side 2:5. "That Naughty Waltz," Wayne King Orchestra.

RCA Thesaurus transcriptions - Tex Beneke

Sons of the Pioneers and the Tex Beneke Orchestra
RCA Thesaurus Orthacoustic. Transcription Disc TR-872

Side One: Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:1. "When Payday Rolls Around," (Bob Nolan) Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:2. "Love Song of the Waterfall," (Bob Nolan) Lloyd Perryman and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:3. "Jim Jam Jiggin' Jive," Karl Farr and Hugh Farr.

Side 1:4. "Beautiful Dreamer," Lloyd Perryman and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:5. "Yippi Yi, Yippi Yo," (Glenn Spencer) Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:6. "Chant of the Wanderer," (Bob Nolan) Bob Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers.

Side Two: Tex Beneke Orchestra.

Side 2:1. "Be My Love," Tex Beneke Orchestra.

Side 2:2. "My Heart Cries For You," Tex Beneke Orchestra.

Side 2:3. "Baby-O, Baby-O (Do That to Me)," Tex Beneke Orchestra.

Side 2:4. "I Remember the Cornfields," Tex Beneke Orchestra.

Side 2:5. "If I Were a Bell," Tex Beneke Orchestra.

The Rex Allen Show

Rex Allen, longtime friend and admirer of the [Sons of the Pioneers], signed them to be a part of his 1950-52 radio show, sponsored by Phillips Petroleum. Joining the Pioneers on the program were former Spade Cooley vocalist, Jennie Jackson, fiddler Wade Ray, and accordionist, Frankie Messina. The Pioneers remained with Rex until they began their own program, Lucky U Ranch, which was, in effect, a continuation of the Rex Allen Show."
— Hear My Song, Ken Griffis, p. 49

We do not have any information on specific episodes or recordings.

United States Navy Country Music Time

The United States Navy Presents Country Music Time: Starring the Sons of the Pioneers and Rex Allen.
Program No. 3-4. Transcription Disc TR-873

Side One: Program No. 3. Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:1. "Tall Timber Trail," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:2. "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen," (Thomas P. Westendorf) Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:3. "Song of the Pioneer," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:4. "Too High, Too Wide, Too Low," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side 1:5. "Tumbleweeds," Sons of the Pioneers.

Side Two: Program No. 4. Rex Allen.

Side 2:1. "Ten More Miles to Go," Rex Allen.

Side 2:2. "Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy," Rex Allen.

Side 2:3. "Afraid," Rex Allen.

Side 2:4. "Sparrow on Treetop," Rex Allen.

Standard Radio transcriptions - Spade Cooley

Spade Cooley: The King of Western Swing and His Dance Gang.
Standard Program Library. Standard Radio, Hollywood, Calif Transcription Disc TR-864

Side 1:1. "If I'd Only See'd You," Spade Cooley.

Side 1:2. "Fiddle Boogie," Spade Cooley.

Side 1:3. "Down at the Coocoo House," Spade Cooley.

Side 1:4. "Bogg's Boogie," Spade Cooley.

Side 1:5. "Oklahoma Waltz," Spade Cooley.

Side 2:1. "Tuesday Two Step," Spade Cooley.

Side 2:2. "Mountain Mother-In-Law," Spade Cooley.

Side 2:3. "Peekin' Peekin' Peekin'," Spade Cooley.

Side 2:4. "Oh Elvirey," Spade Cooley.

Side 2:5. "Four Fiddle Polka," Spade Cooley.