THE IMPORTANCE OF RADIO IN ROY ROGERS’ CAREER

Larry Zwisohn comes up with the most interesting information for me to use. Thanks to Larry here are some of the most interesting highlights of Dad’s radio career:

August 1031 – After failing to find success as part of a singing duo  with his cousin Stan (The Slye Brothers), young Leonard Slye (Dad) takes his sister Mary’s suggestion and appears on the “Midnight Frolic” radio program (on KMCS) which features amateur talent. This leads to an offer to join an old-time music group called The Rocky Mountaineers. (They were all musicians and wanted to add a  vocalist, thus they hired Dad. Dad later got them to add two more vocalists to harmonize with Dad).

The Rocky Mountaineers (Bob Nolan is top right and Dad [Len] is bottom right)

June 1933 – While working with the soon to disband Benny Nawahi and His International Cowboys, a radio time salesman offered young Leonard Slye and Tim Spencer a chance to put together a group for a tour of the Southwest where the public is “hungry” for entertainment. The tour is a total disaster, however, both Leonard and Tim meet their future wives during the tour.

Benny Nawahi and The International Cowboys
(Tim is on the left end and Dad is second on the right)

September 1933 – Back in Los Angeles, Leonard lands a job on Jack and his Texas Outlaws radio program on KFWB.

October 1933 – Unhappiness with the Texas Outlaws’ vocal harmonies leads Leonard to talk with Tim Spencer and Bob Nolan (both of whom he worked with at different times while with The Rocky Mountaineers) to join with him to form The Pioneer Trio. After weeks of rehearsals, they get a audition at KFWB and are hired to appear on the Jack and His Texas Outlaws radio program.

Tim Spencer, Bob Nolan and Leonard Slye, the original Sons of the Pioneers

January 1934 – After only two months on KFWB, the Pioneer Trio is attracting nice write-ups in newspapers and is receiving fan mail leading KFWB to give them their own radio program.

February 1935 – (With the additional of fiddle player [and bass singer] Hugh Farr and his brother, lead-guitarist Karl Farr) Success in the Los Angeles area is broadened when the renamed Sons of the Pioneers record a series of transcriptions which are played on radio stations throughout the United States and Canada.

The Sons of the Pioneer as they appeared in the movie short, “Way Up Thar.”
Top row: Leonard and Bob, Bottom row: Karl, Tim and Hugh,

February 1942 – Managed by Art Rush, a man well-versed in radio (he had been with NBC for years), Roy Rogers begins making frequent radio appearances, more than any other Western star, including Gene Autry.

October 1942 – Roy Rogers appears as a guest on Fred Allen’s top-rated radio program, leading to appearances on other top-rated programs including Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy, Bing Crosby, Eddie Cantor, Lux Radio Theatre, Rudy Vallee, Truth or Consequences and Command Performance.

November 1944 – Debut of The Roy Rogers Show on the Mutual Broadcasting Station.

Dad, Dale Evans and George “Gabby” Hayes on The Roy Rogers Show.

These weren’t the only shows that Dad and/or “The Boys” (as Mom and Dad always called the Sons of the Pioneers) appeared on during the 30s and 40s.  Just some of the highlights.