Dale Warren

Dale Warren was crooning ballads with his warm, soothing voice, years before Jim Reeves and a couple of others changed their styles to “smooth” and made millions. One wonders what would have been in store for Dale if he had decided to become a country cross-over artist, rather than sticking with Western music. Instead, he devoted his career, and his life, to Western music and to keeping the music of the Sons of the Pioneers alive.

As a result, he was a member of the Sons of the Pioneers, and their leader, longer than any other member. After working for about a year with Foy Willing and the Riders of the Purple Sage, Dale joined the Pioneers in Dec.1952. He became the leader in 1977 and continued until his death in 2008. The Sons of the Pioneers are now the longest-running singing group in history.

The big record companies began to ignore Western music in the 1970s, but under Dale’s leadership, the Pioneers’ personal appearances with Roy Rogers and on their own began to pick up considerably. A large fan club was formed and their popularity soared once again. They made a number of appearances on national TV in the late 1970s through the 80s, and were popular at major rodeos, huge arenas like the Astrodome, and venues like Las Vegas and Reno. They received the Pioneer Award from the Academy of Country Music (1978), were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1980) and were honored by the Smithsonian (1979). In 1989, they became the first group to be inducted into the Western Music Hall of Fame.

The group continued to travel extensively, especially as long as Roy Rogers continued to perform on TV and the road. But in the 1990s, as the road became more tiring, both Roy and the Pioneers began to think about how to continue to bring their music to interested audiences without the heavy strain of extensive travel. Dale made arrangements for the Sons of the Pioneers to find a home, at least for the winter months, at the Triple C Chuck Wagon in Tucson. Later, they set up shop in Branson, where they still play today to enthusiastic crowds at their theater.

Through numerous changes in personnel, Dale had to adjust the part he sang from lead to baritone (or bass) to accommodate the voices of new members. It was difficult, but it worked, and the Pioneers “sound” has been maintained through the years.

The Sons of the Pioneers are widely recognized as the most important group in the history of Western music. After Lloyd Perryman died, the Sons of the Pioneers didn’t fade away. Dale Warren kept the group going and he brought the sound of the Sons of the Pioneers into the 21st Century. Thanks to his talent and his dedication to the legacy of Sons of the Pioneers, their legend lives on for modern-day audiences to enjoy “in-person.”

~O.J. Sikes