Come to Yuma Thursday

One of the best compliments that can be paid to Tommy Nallie — and for that matter, the other members of the Sons of the Pioneers — is that the country and western singing group stays true to the harmonies that have made it famous for nearly a century.

As “trail boss” of the group, Nallie is the curator of the sound of the Sons of the Pioneers. “It’s my job to make sure we stick to the original arrangements, the original voicing, and that (the group) has the original Pioneer sounds,” he said.

And that style goes back to the 1930s when Leonard Slye, a cowboy singer who would later change his name to Roy Rogers, joined with Canadianborn Bob Nolan and two other musicians to form the band.

The group’s members have come and gone over the

TICKET INFO

For tickets to Thursday’s performance of Sons of the Pioneers, visit www.yumashowtickets.com, or call the Yuma Art Center, 373-5202; Yuma Civic Center, 373-5040, or Yuma Parks & Recreation Office, 373-5243.

decades, but the Sons of the Pioneers has maintained a wide following. The group has garnered numerous awards and accolades, among them Grammy awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and designation by the Smithsonian Institute as a “National Treasure.” And it’s in the County Music Association, Western Music, National Cowboy, Grammy and Texas Swing halls of fame.

So yes, upholding the tradition of the Sons of the Pioneers is important to today’s members.

“We’re trying to do our best to hold it up and keep it going,” said Nallie.

And that tradition comes back to Yuma on Thursday when Tucson-based Lonely Street Productions bring the Sons of the Pioneer to Historic Yuma Theatre for a return performance at 7 p.m.

Nallie, who yodels and plays bass for the Sons, will be joined by Ken Lattimore on fiddle, John Fullerton on guitar, bass and mandolin, Paul Elliott on fiddle, and Dusty Rogers on vocals.

The latter, incidentally, is none other than Roy Rogers Jr., son of Roy and Dale Evans. He’ll also serve as master of ceremonies for the Yuma performance, and Nallie says

LOANED PHOTOS CURRENT SONS OF THE Pioneers are (from left) John Fullerton, Paul Elliott, Tommy Nallie, Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr. and (not pictured) Ken Lattimore.

“RAVE ON!” A CONCERT that pays tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper and Dion, takes place tonight at the Historic Yuma Theatre.