In 1933 Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan, and Tim Spencer formed the "Pioneer Trio."  The following year Texas fiddle player Hugh Farr also joined the group.  Then in 1935 there was the addition of Hugh’s brother, guitarist Karl Farr.  Rogers, Spencer, Nolan, and Hugh and Karl Farr are considered by many to be the original "Sons of the Pioneers."
Some others who have toured with the famous western group include; Lloyd Perryman, bass player Pat Brady (Roy Rogers' TV sidekick), Luther Nallie, and Ken Carson.
In 1934 the group signed with the Decca record label and one of the first songs recorded was "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," which was originally written in 1932 with the title "Tumbling Leaves."  In 1935 Republic Pictures released the film "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" starring Gene Autry, which of coarse included the song of the same name.
In 1949, Spencer and Nolan retired and were replaced by Ken Curtis (who went on to play Festus on "Gunsmoke") and Tommy Doss, and in 1952 Dale Warren joined the group.  Leonard Slye took on the stage name Roy Rogers and moved on to become a film star and the Sons of the Pioneers were featured in several of Roy's films.

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Tumbling Tumbleweeds by the Sons of the Pioneers, featuring Roy Rogers.

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