Liner Notes

Happy Trails: The Roy Rogers Collection (1937-1990)

$49.98

Track by Track Notes

by Laurence Zwisohn

Disc 1

I'VE SOLD MY SADDLE FOR AN OLD GUITAR - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(9/1/38) Okeh single

One of the finest songs Roy ever sang was "I've Sold My Saddle For An Old Guitar," which came from his 1939 film Saga Of Death Valley. Roy and Fleming Allan wrote this melancholy song that tells of an old cowboy who spent his life in the saddle earning a cowhand's wage. Now the years have caught up with him, and he'll ride the range no more. Fortunately for all of us, Roy had almost 60 years of trails ahead of him when he wrote and recorded this song.

THAT PIONEER MOTHER OF MINE - Roy Rogers
(10/28/37) Perfect single

Roy's first starring film, Under Western Stars, FEATUREd the fine song, "That Pioneer Mother Of Mine," which his old friend Tim Spencer wrote for him. Roy's mother loved this song, and whenever they had a family gathering she always asked him to sing it. Roy said he never could get through the song without having tears come to his eyes as he thought of all the hardships his mother had gone through as she raised four children while dealing with the effects of the polio she had contracted as a child.

IT'S HOME SWEET HOME TO ME - Roy Rogers
(12/40) "Radio Rodeo"

One of the best of Roy's early films was The Arizona Kid, which was released in September 1939. The film was loosely based on the story of Quantrells raiders during the days of the Civil War. Roy costarred six months later with John Wayne, Claire Trevor, and Walter Pidgeon in the big budget film The Dark Command, also based on this story. In The Arizona Kid Roy showcased his great yodelling skill as he sang "Its Home Sweet Home To Me," a song written by Walter Samuels, the cowriter of "Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle." This performance comes from Radio Rodeo, the first of Roy's series of radio programs.

THE MAN IN THE MOON IS A COWHAND - Roy Rogers
(4/25/42) The Call Of The West

Roy's next radio series was The Call Of The West, which was broadcast over NBC's Blue Network. (At the time, NBC operated both the Blue Network and the Red Network.) The show FEATUREd Roy's film sidekick Gabby Hayes, actress Sally Payne, and Roy's old friends The Sons Of The Pioneers. Although Roy didn't write as many songs as the Pioneers' Bob Nolan or Tim Spencer, he still found time to write a few tunes, such as "The Man In the Moon Is A Cowhand," which he sang in his 1938 film Shine On Harvest Moon.

COOL WATER - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(4/25/42) The Call Of The West

Bob Nolan, Roy Rogers, and Tim Spencer were the original members of The Sons Of The Pioneers. Bob was without doubt the finest songwriter Western music has ever produced. No one could write lyrics that were as poetic or that so perfectly captured the beauty and drama of the West. Although Bob wrote "Cool Water" in 1934, the Pioneers didn't record it until 1941. However, in 1934 they did made a transcription of the song for Standard Radio. Here Roy joins the Pioneers to sing lead on this great Western classic, which they also sang in Roy's film Hands Across The Border in 1944.

A COWBOY HAS TO SING - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(4/25/42) The Call Of The West

Bob Nolan could write slow, dramatic songs such as "Cool Water," and then turn around and write a rousing up-tempo tune like "A Cowboy Has To Sing" (which is often called "At The Gates Of The Home Corral"). The Pioneers returned to this song quite often over the years, including their 1947 film performance of it with Roy in Springtime In The Sierras.

PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(12/7/43) "Roy Rogers Audition"

One of the most popular songs during the early '40s was "Pistol Packin' Mama," written by country singer Al Dexter. After his record became a surprise crossover hit on the pop chart, Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters recorded their version. Both records went on to sell over a million copies. After a tongue-in-cheek introduction, Roy and The Sons Of The Pioneers give out with a spirited performance of the tune, including a seldom-heard verse.

CLEANIN' MY RIFLE (AND DREAMIN' OF YOU) - Roy Rogers
(12/7/43) "Roy Rogers Audition"

Broadcasting a radio show each week made it necessary for Roy to come up with new material on a regular basis, a circumstance that makes it possible for us to hear him sing a number of songs that he neither recorded nor sang in his films. Roy does a beautiful job here on "Cleanin' My Rifle (And Dreamin' Of You)," a forgotten tune written by Allie Wrubel, who had greater success with "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and "Music, Maestro, Please."

MY SADDLE PALS AND I - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(3/27/45) The Roy Rogers Show

All three members of The Pioneer Trio were fine songwriters. Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer were very prolific, while Roy Rogers was always so busy with other things that only occasionally did he have time to sit down and write a song. Still, when he found the time, he could come up with an outstanding one like "My Saddle Pals And I," which has to rank as one of the best cowboy songs ever written. Roy worked very hard on the song and was proud of its intricate rhyming pattern. His 1946 film Heldorado FEATUREs a nice scene in which Roy and the Pioneers sing "My Saddle Pals And I" from the center of the rodeo arena.

SWEET GEORGIA BROWN - Hugh & Karl Farr
(3/27/45) The Roy Rogers Show

The Sons Of The Pioneers were an exceptional group, with wonderful vocal harmony, marvelous songs, and superb instrumentalists. Hugh Farr, one of the best fiddle players ever, had been brought into the original Pioneer Trio to improve their musicianship. Almost immediately he began urging the boys to add his guitarist brother, Karl, to the group. When Karl joined up a few months later, the group really came together. "Sweet Georgia Brown," by Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard, and Kenneth Casey, gives us a chance to hear the brilliance of Hugh and Karl, who could play everything from hoedowns to jazz.

ROLL ALONG PRAIRIE MOON - Roy Rogers
(3/27/45) The Roy Rogers Show

One of Roy's most exciting films was King Of The Cowboys, released in April 1943. The fast-paced storyline involved foreign saboteurs, giving the film something of the feel of the cliff-hanging serials popular at the time. In the midst of all the action Roy still had time to sing the fine song "Roll Along Prairie Moon," written in 1935 by bandleader Ted Fio Rito (who had written "Toot Toot Tootsie" for Al Jolson), Harry MacPherson, and Albert Von Tilzer (whose credits include "Take Me Out To The Ballgame").

SINGING DOWN THE ROAD - Roy Rogers
(4/3/45) The Roy Rogers Show

In Roy's 1945 film Bells Of Rosarita, Dale Evans plays a daughter who inherits her father's financially strapped ranch and carnival. Roy offers to help out by putting on a big show so Dale can raise enough money to pay off the mortgage. Not only does Roy offer to star in the show, but he also calls on his fellow Republic Pictures Western stars Wild Bill Elliott, Allan "Rocky" Lane, Don "Red" Barry, Robert Livingston, and Sunset Carson to help out. One of the film's FEATUREd songs was "Singing Down The Road" by Charles Tobias and Raymond Scott.

MILENBURG JOYS - Hugh & Karl Farr
(4/3/45) The Roy Rogers Show

The Sons Of The Pioneers took as much pride in their musicianship as they did in their singing. For almost 25 years Hugh and Karl Farr played tasteful accompaniment to the group's harmonies and sensational instrumentals as part of the Pioneers' performances. Hugh and Karl are showcased here on "Milenburg Joys," written by Paul Mares, Leon Roppolo, and Jelly Roll Morton. The tune dates back to 1923, when it was recorded by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings with Jelly Roll Morton on piano.

RIDIN' DOWN THE CANYON - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(4/3/45) The Roy Rogers Show

Smiley Burnette and Gene Autry met during the early days of Gene's radio career in Chicago. When Gene came out to Hollywood to go into films he brought Smiley along with him. During their drive across the country Smiley was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the West and wrote the beautiful cowboy song "Ridin' Down The Canyon." Gene bought the rights to the song from Smiley and made the first recording of the tune. Ironically, the song wasn't used as the title number to an Autry film but to a 1942 Roy Rogers film.

DO-SI-DO - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(4/3/45) The Roy Rogers Show

Growing up on a farm way out in the country meant that Roy and his family had to make their own entertainment. Often on Saturday nights his parents would invite some of their neighbors over for a square dance. By the time he was ten years old, Roy was able to call the dances himself. Here Roy and the Pioneers sing Philip Lang's uptown version of a square dance. In the middle of the song, Roy, along with Hugh Farr on the fiddle, gives us an example of what real square dance calling is all about.

DON'T FENCE ME IN - Roy Rogers
(4/10/45) The Roy Rogers Show

Cole Porter's song "Don't Fence Me In" had an unusual history: it was based on a poem written by Robert Fletcher to which Porter had purchased the rights. In 1934 Porter wrote the song for an unproduced film scheduled to be called Adios, Argentina. A decade later Warner Bros. was preparing their 1944 all-star musical film, Hollywood Canteen, when someone came across the long-forgotten song and thought it would be perfect for Roy Rogers and The Sons Of The Pioneers to sing. The Andrews Sisters reprised it later in the film, and their recording of the tune with Bing Crosby became a runaway best-seller. After the song took off, Republic Pictures acquired the rights to "Don't Fence Me In," and it became the title song of Roy's October 1945 film release.

SILVER STARS, PURPLE SAGE, EYES OF BLUE - Roy Rogers
(7/29/46) The Roy Rogers Show

One of the most exciting and fun-filled movies Roy ever made was Heldorado, which was filmed in Las Vegas in 1946. The film has a wonderful scene in which Dale is looking for a package at the railway depot when the bad guys arrive and lock her in an abandoned refrigerator. Fortunately Roy comes to the rescue, whips the bad guys, and opens the refrigerator door when he hears Dale pounding from inside. As Roy opens the door he playfully asks Dale if the light had gone out when the door was closed. Dale's indignant reaction is just part of the wonderful screen chemistry that made their films so much fun. Denver Darling's "Silver Stars, Purple Sage, Eyes Of Blue" is one of the best songs Roy sang in the film.

TAKE ME BACK TO T-E-X-A-S - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(7/29/46) The Roy Rogers Show

Roy liked to get the audience involved in his performances at rodeos and state fairs. As part of each show he put on a shooting exhibition during which he asked the audience to yell "Bull's-eye" when he hit the target, or "Black eye" (on the rare occasion) when he missed. There's no shooting here; instead, Roy gets the studio audience to help him out on the up-tempo song "Take Me Back To T-E-X-A-S," written by Ken Carson and Guy Savage. Ken was a member of The Sons Of The Pioneers during World War II, when he did a fine job of filling in for Lloyd Perryman.

LADY ROUND A LADY AND THE GENT SOLO - Roy Rogers
(7/29/46) The Roy Rogers Show (recorded in front of a live audience after the broadcast)

When he completed the evening's radio broadcast, Roy and the cast stayed around to put on a little show for the studio audience. After having Trigger perform a few tricks, Roy decided to show the audience how he and his family helped entertain themselves when he was growing up on the farm in Duck Run, Ohio. Quite often on Saturday nights Roy's parents would invite some of their neighbors over for a square dance, and by the time he was ten years old Roy had learned to call the dances himself. Here he shows us just how fast he could call them.

MY CHICKASHAY GAL - Roy Rogers
(9/4/46) Victor single

For a number of years Country Washburne was the orchestra leader on Roy's radio program. Country was a fine musical arranger who wrote songs such as "One Dozen Roses" and "Oh Monah." He also backed Roy on a number of his RCA Victor recordings, including "My Chickashay Gal," which was written by Smokey Rogers and Spade Cooley. The song was one of Roy's best-selling records.

SILVER ON THE SAGE - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(10/26/46) Saturday Night Roundup

Some of the finest Western songs were written by talented songwriters under contract to the Hollywood film studios. Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger worked for Paramount Pictures, where they wrote "Blue Hawaii" for Bing Crosby and "Thanks For The Memory" for Bob Hope. For the 1938 film The Texans, which starred Randolph Scott and Joan Bennett, they wrote "Silver On The Sage" (a favorite of Dale's), which is beautifully performed here by Roy, Dale, and The Sons Of The Pioneers.

COWBOY HAM AND EGGS - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(10/26/46) Saturday Night Roundup

Most of Roy's films were made at the Republic Pictures studios with exterior scenes filmed at locations such as Lone Pine and Corriganville in the Southern California area. One of the few exceptions was Roy's 1946 picture Home In Oklahoma, which was filmed on location at the Flying "L" Ranch in Davis, Oklahoma, about 40 miles south of Oklahoma City. The ranch was such a beautiful setting that when Roy and Dale were married they decided to have the ceremony held there. Tim Spencer wrote the up-tempo "Cowboy Ham And Eggs" for Roy and the Pioneers to sing in a breakfast club scene at the ranch.

OUT CALIFORNIA WAY - Dale Evans
(10/26/46) Saturday Night Roundup

Although you can't think about Roy Rogers without thinking about Dale Evans, the fact is Dale was scheduled to play Roy's leading lady only in The Cowboy And The Senorita before returning to the musicals she was starring in for Republic. But as soon as the studio saw the on-screen chemistry between Roy and Dale, they realized they had something very special going for them. From then on Dale was regularly FEATUREd as Roy's leading lady in his movies and, before long, on his radio series as well. Dale solos here on Foster Carling and Jack Meakin's "Out California Way," the title song from Monte Hale's third film for Republic. Roy and Dale made a guest appearance in that 1946 film.

WE'LL REST AT THE END OF THE TRAIL - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(11/30/46) Saturday Night Roundup

Fred Rose had one of the most interesting musical careers anyone could imagine. After starting as a singer in vaudeville, he turned to songwriting and came up with hits such as "Deed I Do." During the '40s Rose moved to Hollywood, where he wrote songs for Gene Autry, including "Be Honest With Me" and "Tears On My Pillow." His next move was to Nashville, where he went into the music publishing business with Roy Acuff. Rose, who signed Hank Williams as a songwriter, ran the publishing company and still found time to write great country songs, such as "No One Will Ever Know" and "Take These Chains From My Heart." Roy Rogers and The Sons Of The Pioneers' association with Fred Rose dated back to 1936, when they recorded his and Curt Poulton's song "We'll Rest At The End Of The Trail."

THERE'S A HOME IN WYOMIN' - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(12/7/46) Saturday Night Roundup

Billy Hill made his mark with Western songs such as "The Last Round-Up" and "Empty Saddles" along with wonderful pop songs like "The Glory Of Love" and "In The Chapel In The Moonlight." Peter DeRose was the writer of fine pop songs like "Deep Purple" and "The Lamp Is Low." Both loved Western songs, and they teamed up to write "Wagon Wheels" and "The Oregon Trail" as well as this rhythmic song.

A GAL IN CALICO - Roy Rogers
(12/7/46) Saturday Night Roundup

The real boom in cowboy music began with the enormous success of the song "The Last Round-Up" during the early '30s. From then on Hollywood and Tin Pan Alley songwriters began turning out a steady stream of cowboy songs in the hopes of finding the next Western hit. "A Gal In Calico" was written by Leo Robin and Arthur Schwartz for the 1946 film The Time, The Place And The Girl, which starred Jack Carson and Dennis Morgan. The song became a hit for Bing Crosby, Tex Beneke, and even for Benny Goodman.

RIDIN' DOWN THE SUNSET TRAIL - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(12/7/46) Saturday Night Roundup

In addition to writing a number of fine songs for Roy's movies during the '40s, Jack Elliott also formed Bel-Tone Records, for which Dale Evans made her first solo recordings. Roy and Dale performed his song "Ridin' Down The Sunset Trail" in Roy's 1946 film Rainbow Over Texas, and six months later they reprised the song when they made a guest appearance in the Monte Hale film Out California Way.

GONNA BUILD A BIG FENCE AROUND TEXAS - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(12/14/46) Saturday Night Roundup

Western songs not only attracted the interest of Hollywood and Tin Pan Alley songwriters, but they even drew the attention of big band leaders. The first song that Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra ever recorded was "Take Me Back To My Boots And Saddle," while Benny Goodman had a hit record with "Idaho" (the title song from one of Roy's films). Another band leader, George Olsen, joined with Katherine Phillips and Cliff Friend to write the bouncy song "Gonna Build A Big Fence Around Texas," which Roy and the Robert Mitchell Boychoir sang in the 1945 film Bells Of Rosarita.

THE KID WITH THE RIP IN HIS PANTS - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(12/14/46) Saturday Night Roundup

One of Roy's most popular recordings was the warm-hearted tune "The Kid With The Rip In His Pants," which was one of Gabby Hayes' favorites. The song was written by Jack Owens, who also wrote the nonsense tune "Hut Sut Song" before turning to Hawaiian songs like "The Hukilau Song" and "I'll Weave A Lei Of Stars."

WAGON WHEELS - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(12/14/46) Saturday Night Roundup

Broadway's Ziegfeld Follies Of 1934 was the unlikely source for this great Western song. Billy Hill, the song's writer (who also wrote under his given name of George Brown), has to rank along with Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer as one of the finest writers of Western songs. Roy always said that The Sons Of The Pioneers ' arrangement of Hill's song "The Last Round-Up" was responsible for the group getting their own radio program on KFWB at the start of their career.

Disc 2

HOME ON THE RANGE- Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(12/28/46) Saturday Night Roundup

Probably the most famous Western ballad of all is "Home On The Range," written by Dr. Brewster Higley and Dan Kelley in Kansas in 1873. The Sons Of The Pioneers didn't sing all that many traditional cowboy songs since they were blessed with the songwriting talents of Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer. However, "Home On The Range," featuring their famous trio yodel, has remained in their repertoire almost since they started. Roy sang a parody of the song in his 1944 film Song Of Nevada, but here he, Dale, and the Pioneers give a beautiful reading of the song that Roy called the cowboy's national anthem.

MY LITTLE LADY - Roy Rogers
(12/28/46) Saturday Night Roundup

Nobody could yodel better than Roy Rogers. He began yodeling back on the farm in Duck Run, Ohio, and through constant practice he developed a style that was distinctly his own. During the mid-'30s there were annual yodeling contests held in Southern California, and to no one's surprise Roy usually won first prize. Jimmie Rodgers' yodeling was quite different from Roy's. Rodgers, the father of country music, had a bluesy style that earned him the nickname the Blue Yodeler. Roy's distinctive yodeling is showcased on the Jimmie Rodgers and Elsie McWilliams song "My Little Lady" (also known as "Hadie Brown") with Roy making no attempt to imitate the Blue Yodeler. There was no need--Roy was an original all the way.

COWBOY JUBILEE - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(1/4/47) Saturday Night Roundup

During World War II Lloyd Perryman and Pat Brady of The Sons Of The Pioneers served overseas in the army. During Lloyd's absence Ken Carson, a fine tenor singer and whistler, filled in for him. Ken wrote a number of songs, including the rousing "Cowboy Jubilee," which was introduced in Roy's 1944 film Lights Of Old Santa Fe. The up-tempo tune worked so well for the Pioneers that they continued to use it as their opening song for many years.

SMILES ARE MADE OUT OF THE SUNSHINE - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(1/4/47) Saturday Night Roundup

Ever since Dale Evans wrote "Happy Trails," the song has become synonymous with the King of the Cowboys and the Queen of the West. For several years before Dale wrote it, Roy used "Smiles Are Made Out Of The Sunshine" as his theme song, because he liked the positive nature of that song's lyrics. Roy had introduced that song in his 1943 film Man From Music Mountain. The song was written by Ray Gilbert, who also wrote "You Belong To My Heart" and "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah" and was married to the the dancer Janis Paige.

(OH WHY, OH WHY, DID I EVER LEAVE) WYOMING - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(1/11/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

Roy always had a wonderful sense of humor, so it's not surprising that he enjoyed singing this humorous song. While things may have changed on the ranch since the song's homesick cowboy left for the East, the fact is he still misses the West. Although "Wyoming" was popularized by the mustachioed Jerry Colonna from the Bob Hope radio show, it was written by Morey Amsterdam, who is best remembered for his long-running role on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Amsterdam also wrote the Andrews Sisters' hit "Rum And Coca Cola."

GIT ALONG LITTLE DOGIES - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(1/11/47) Saturday Night Roundup

Many of the traditional Western songs were made up by the cowboys who drove the herds up the cattle trails to market. Often at night the cowboy who rode night guard would sing to cattle to help keep them calm. As cowboys drifted from one ranch to another or from one state to another they took their songs with them. One of the oldest and most authentic of all these cowboy songs is "Git Along Little Dogies," which was sung to many a herd of cattle in the days of the Old West.

MY HEART WENT THAT-A-WAY - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(1/18/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

Working on films involves many delays as sets are put in place, lighting is adjusted, and scenes are filmed with other actors. It was probably during one of their many breaks in filming that Roy and Dale began working on the song "My Heart Went That-A-Way." Roy made a solo record of the song, because Dale was under contract to another record company at the time. On this radio broadcast version we have a chance to hear them duet on their song.

OLE FAITHFUL - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(1/18/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

British songwriter Jimmy Kennedy was cowriter of "South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way)." Not to be outdone, his brother, Hamilton Kennedy, collaborated with Michael Carr (the other writer of "South Of The Border") on the Western song "Ole Faithful." Roy sang it in his 1946 film My Pal Trigger, which always remained his favorite of all the pictures he made. The film gave Gabby Hayes one of his best roles, and, as the title indicates, Trigger was prominently FEATUREd too.

ALONG THE NAVAJO TRAIL - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(1/25/47) Saturday Night Roundup

The West continued to inspire Tin Pan Alley songwriters throughout the '40s, when Larry Markes, Dick Charles, and Eddie DeLange wrote "Along The Navajo Trail." The song became a hit for Dinah Shore in 1945 and was an even bigger hit for Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. Roy and the Pioneers performed it in Don't Fence Me In a few months before "Along The Navajo Trail" became the title song from Roy's next film.

RAGTIME COWBOY JOE - Dale Evans
(2/1/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

Dale Evans can sing a romantic song, a religious song, a Western song, or an up-tempo pop novelty as well as anyone. Here she gently lulls us into the toe-tapping "Ragtime Cowboy Joe," which dates all the way back to 1912, when it was written by Lewis Muir, Maurice Abrahams, and Grant Clarke. The song has enjoyed periodic revivals, including Alice Faye's performance of it in her 1943 film Hello Frisco, Hello, then Jo Stafford's 1949 hit record, and again ten years later, when it was recorded by David Seville And The Chipmunks.

JINGLE, JANGLE, JINGLE - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(2/1/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

Kay Kyser's 1942 recording of "Jingle, Jangle, Jingle" made the song one of the most popular hits of the early days of World War II. The tune was written by Frank Loesser and Joseph J. Lilley for the film The Forest Rangers, which starred Fred MacMurray and Paulette Goddard. Roy and Dale are so much at home with this catchy tune, it's surprising they never recorded it.

EMPTY SADDLES - Roy Rogers
(2/1/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

In 1936 The Sons Of The Pioneers (including Roy Rogers, who was still known as Len Slye) appeared in Bing Crosby's film Rhythm On The Range. One of the songs Bing sang in that picture was "Empty Saddles," which Billy Hill had adapted from a poem written by J. Keirn Brennan. Here Roy delivers a fine solo performance of this poignant Western song.

(DOWN THE) TRAIL TO SAN ANTONE - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(2/8/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

One of the best and brightest of all the Western trail songs is this wonderful tune written by Deuce Spriggens. Deuce, who worked for many years with Tex Williams and his Western Caravan, later spent a few years playing bass with The Sons Of The Pioneers. Roy and the Pioneers do a fine job harmonizing on this rhythmic song, which also FEATUREs some fine yodeling by Roy.

LINDA LOU - Roy Rogers
(2/8/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

The thing that mattered most to Roy was his family, which eventually grew to nine children. A couple of years after Roy and his wife Arline adopted their daughter Cheryl, they gave her a sister when their daughter Linda Lou was born. Today Linda is married to a church minister and is the leader of the choir at his church. (Linda also has one of the most beautiful singing voices you could hope to hear.) Roy was so delighted to have a second child that he and Ekko Whelan (a pseudonym for Nat Vincent) wrote this song in his daughter's honor.

RED RIVER VALLEY - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(2/8/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

One of the most beloved of all Western songs is "Red River Valley," adapted from a song about the Mohawk Valley in upstate New York. After Roy's pictures began doing well at the box office, he urged the studio to bring his old friends The Sons Of The Pioneers into his films. It took awhile, but finally, late in 1941, the Pioneers made their initial appearance with Roy, in Red River Valley. A little over a year later they reprised the song in Roy's movie King Of The Cowboys.

LITTLE JOE THE WRANGLER - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(2/15/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

In 1908 a cowboy named Jack Thorp published a little booklet of traditional cowboy songs along with a few tunes he had written. Thorp's "Little Joe The Wrangler" became the most popular of these ballads and has since become a Western classic. Roy always loved this affecting song about the unfortunate young wrangler; he finally got a chance to record it for his Tribute album in 1991. Here Roy and The Sons Of The Pioneers give us their version of this fine story-song.

ROLL ON TEXAS MOON - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(2/15/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

One of Roy's most enjoyable films is Roll On Texas Moon, in which Gabby Hayes plays a cattleman, while Dale Evans plays a niece who has inherited her uncle's nearby sheep ranch. The film has a wonderful running gag in which Gabby, who hates sheep, is adopted by a cute baby lamb, and wherever Gabby went the lamb was sure to go. Just as a range war is about to break out between the cattlemen and the sheepherders, Roy comes to the rescue. One of the highlights of this 1946 film is the fine title song written by Jack Elliott.

THE WHEEL OF THE WAGON IS BROKEN - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(2/15/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

Western films were as popular in England as they were in America. The British also loved Western music and even tried to write some songs in that vein, including Michael Carr and Jimmy Kennedy's "South Of The Border (Down Mexico Way)." Carr also joined with the British team of Elton Box & Desmond Cox to write the wistful ballad "The Wheel Of The Wagon Is Broken." While they never seriously challenged Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer, the Englishmen still came up with an enjoyable song.

MY ADOBE HACIENDA - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(2/22/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

From the '30s through the '40s, radio's The National Barn Dance in Chicago was as popular as the Grand Ole Opry. Both Gene Autry and Rex Allen were given important career boosts when they were FEATUREd on The National Barn Dance. Among the most popular groups on the program were Louise Massey & The Westerners. In 1941 Louise and Lee Penny wrote "My Adobe Hacienda," which became a hit for the group before being revived in 1947 with records by Eddy Howard and the Dinning Sisters.

CARRY ME BACK TO THE LONE PRAIRIE - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(2/22/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

One of the most beloved of the traditional cowboy songs is "Oh Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie." Carson J. Robison, a prolific writer of folk, country, and cowboy songs, couldn't believe any cowboy would say he didn't want to be buried on the prairie, so he revised the lyrics and came up with "Carry Me Back To The Lone Prairie." At various times throughout their career The Sons Of The Pioneers have sung both versions of this song.

YOU CAN'T TAKE TEXAS OUT OF ME - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(2/22/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

Dale Evans is proud of her Texas heritage, and Roy always liked to kid her by saying that you can always tell a Texan, but not much. When Dale was cast as Roy's leading lady in Cowboy And The Senorita, the studio assumed she could ride since she was from Texas. In fact Dale hadn't been on a horse since she was ten years old. However, Dale is up to any challenge, and in a fairly short time she became quite a good horsewoman. Roy and The Sons Of The Pioneers deliver their own tribute to the Lone Star State with the Bob Newman song "You Can't Take Texas Out Of Me."

WAY OUT THERE - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(3/1/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

Bob Nolan spent a few years riding the rails and wandering around the country before joining with Roy Rogers and Tim Spencer to form The Pioneer Trio, which grew into The Sons Of The Pioneers. The first song Bob wrote, "Way Out There," was inspired by his roving days. When The Pioneer Trio auditioned at KFWB it was their singing and yodeling on this song that got them hired by the radio station. In 1946 the Pioneers performed it in Roy's film Song Of Arizona. Roy teams here with Bob and Tim along with the rest of the Pioneers (Lloyd Perryman, Hugh and Karl Farr, and Pat Brady) on this great Pioneer song.

RIDE 'EM COWBOY - The Sons Of The Pioneers
(3/1/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

Tim Spencer had never written a song before he became one of the original members of The Sons Of The Pioneers. However, with some encouragement from Bob Nolan, he soon began trying his hand at songwriting. Tim went on to write many fine songs, including "Ride 'Em Cowboy," which was one of Roy's favorites because of its marchlike tempo. Roy and Smiley Burnette sang the song in King Of The Cowboys in 1943, so it's only right that the Pioneers finally get a chance to give us their version in this radio broadcast performance.

DANGEROUS GROUND - Roy Rogers
(3/1/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

For reasons that aren't particularly clear, Roy never recorded as many cowboy songs as most people would have liked. Many of his recordings were of lighthearted pop and country songs such as "Dangerous Ground," by Steve Nelson, who also gave us "Peter Cottontail," Milton Leeds, who wrote the English lyrics to "Perfidia," and Ed Nelson, Jr, the writer of Eddy Arnold's hit "I'm Throwing Rice (At The Girl That I Love)."

IF YOU'RE EVER DOWN IN TEXAS LOOK ME UP - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(3/9/47) Saturday Night Roundup

Texas held a very special place in Roy's heart. Dale Evans, his wife of 51 years, was born in Uvalde, Texas, and Roy's first child, Cheryl, was adopted from Hope Cottage in Dallas. After Roy and Dale lost their daughter Robin, they felt the need to have another child in their home. Once again it was Hope Cottage in Dallas that provided the answer when they adopted their daughter Dodie. Here Roy and the Pioneers sing a happy little tune Terry Shand and By Dunham wrote about the Lone Star State called "If You're Ever Down In Texas Look Me Up."

BLUE PRAIRIE - The Sons Of The Pioneers
(3/9/47) Saturday Night Roundup

One of the most beautiful Western songs ever written is "Blue Prairie," which has been a Pioneer standard ever since the group first performed it in 1934. Tim Spencer came up with the idea for the song but asked Bob Nolan to help him finish it. Although Bob and Tim were close friends, they actually wrote very few songs together, as each preferred to write alone. Bob always said "Blue Prairie" was Tim's song, and that he had just helped out on it. One of the reason's for The Sons Of The Pioneers' success was the way they could write outstanding songs such as this and then come up with beautiful arrangements and then topped it off with their impeccable harmonies.

I'M GONNA LASSO A DREAM - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(3/9/47) Saturday Night Roundup

Roy and Dale do a little counterpoint singing on "I'm Gonna Lasso A Dream," which was written by three of the most talented songwriters Tin Pan Alley has ever produced. Mack David, the older brother of Hal David, has written songs ranging from "La Vie En Rose" to "Bibbidi-Bobbidi -Boo" and "I Don't Care If the Sun Don't Shine." Al Hoffman's writing credits include "Heartaches," "I Apologize," and "The Hawaiian Wedding Song." Jerry Livingston's songs include "Mairzy Doats," "It's the Talk Of The Town," and "The Twelfth Of Never."

TWILIGHT ON THE TRAIL - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(3/15/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

Fuzzy Knight was one of the best of all the cowboy sidekicks , having worked with Tex Ritter, Johnny Mack Brown, Rod Cameron, and Bill Elliott, among others. However, the film for which he is best remembered is The Trail Of The Lonesome Pine, starring Henry Fonda and Fred MacMurray. In this film Fuzzy sings the beautiful Sidney D. Mitchell and Louis Alter song "Twilight On The Trail" in a surprisingly gentle voice that shows why he'd enjoyed such a successful career as a song-and-dance man in the days of vaudeville.

I'M THINKING TONIGHT OF MY BLUE EYES - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(3/15/47) Saturday Night Roundup

Few melodies have had more lyrics written to it than this one. Under the title "I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes," the song was popularized by the Carter Family in 1929 and was performed by Roy in his 1943 film Man From Music Mountain. Meanwhile Roy Acuff had one of his most popular records in 1937 with "The Great Speckled Bird," which used the same melody. Then in 1952 Hank Thompson had a huge hit with "The Wild Side Of Life," which was followed by Kitty Wells' answer in "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels," and, once again, the same melody was used both times.

WAIT'LL I GET MY SUNSHINE IN THE MOONLIGHT - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(3/15/47) Saturday Night Roundup

Jane Frazee was Roy's leading lady in his 1948 film The Gay Ranchero, in which they duetted on "Wait'll I Get My Sunshine In The Moonlight." Although Dale had taken a break from Roy's films, she was still FEATUREd on his radio program, giving them an opportunity to duet on this cute song written by Harry Glick, Jimmy Lambert, and Dave Olson.

"THE ROY ROGERS SHOW" PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
"ROY ROGERS CORAL" PROMOTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Disc 3

DUST - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(3/22/47) Saturday Night Roundup

Roy's first starring film was Under Western Stars, which was released in April 1938. The film had originally been intended for Gene Autry, but after he and Republic Pictures had a disagreement, the studio gave the starring role to the newly signed Roy Rogers. Much of the film's story line revolves around the devastation being caused at that time by the dust storms in the Southwest. One of the musical highlights of the film is Roy's dramatic performance of the song "Dust," written by Johnny Marvin. A decade later Roy reprises the song in his film Under California Stars.

I'M AN OLD COWHAND (FROM THE RIO GRANDE) - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, The Sons Of The Pioneers , Gabby Hayes & Pat Buttram
(3/29/47) Saturday Night Roundup rehearsal

The big musical number in Bing Crosby's 1936 film Rhythm On The Range is the Johnny Mercer song "I'm An Old Cowhand," which is performed in a scene in which the entire cast is gathered around the campfire singing. Bing is joined by his costars Frances Farmer, Martha Raye, and Bob "Bazooka" Burns, along with Louis Prima and his New Orleans jazz band and The Sons Of The Pioneers, as each sing a chorus of this memorable song. Here Roy is joined by the entire cast of The Roy Rogers Show, including Dale Evans, The Sons Of The Pioneers (featuring their fiddler and bass singer Hugh Farr), Gabby Hayes, and Pat Buttram, with the accompaniment of Country Washburne's orchestra. Everyone seems to have a good time on this song, which Roy also sings in his 1943 film King Of The Cowboys.

MY LITTLE BUCKAROO - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(3/29/47) Saturday Night Roundup

Back during the days when Roy was still a member of The Sons Of The Pioneers, the group appeared in the Warner Bros. Westerns Song Of The Saddle and California Mail, starring Dick Foran. After a few more years of making Westerns, Foran moved on and became a successful character actor. In his 1940 film Cherokee Strip Foran introduced M.K. Jerome and Jack Scholl's fine Western song "My Little Buckaroo," which Roy dedicates here to his son Dusty, who was just five months old at the time of this broadcast. Roy also sings this tune in his films Ridin' Down The Canyon and Don't Fence Me In.

BLUE SHADOWS ON THE TRAIL - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(12/1/47) RCA single

The musical highlight of Walt Disney's 1948 film Melody Time, which FEATUREs several animated sequences, is Roy and the Pioneers' beautiful performance of "Blue Shadows On The Trail," written by Johnny Lange and Eliot Daniel. Roy considered this to be the best recording he ever made.

(THERE'LL NEVER BE ANOTHER) PECOS BILL - Roy Rogers & Foy Willing & The Riders Of The Purple Sage
(8/48) The Roy Rogers Show

"Pecos Bill," the most popular of the animated sequences in the Disney film Melody Time, mentioned above, opens with Roy and The Sons Of The Pioneers gathered around a campfire as Roy tells young Bobby Driscoll and Luana Patten the story of Pecos Bill, the rootin' tootin'-est cowboy to ever come out of Texas. Johnny Lange and Eliot Daniel did an especially fine job of writing the story-songs for the film.

ROSE OF OL' PAWNEE - Roy Rogers & Foy Willing & The Riders Of The Purple Sage
(4/21/49) Western Hit Parade

When Roy Rogers, Bob Nolan, and Tim Spencer formed The Pioneer Trio (which soon became The Sons Of The Pioneers ), they didn't realize they would be the inspiration for the formation of a number of vocal groups that would be patterned after themselves. Foy Willing & The Riders Of The Purple Sage were probably the most successful of these groups, and by 1949 they, along with Dale Evans, had their own weekly Western Hit Parade radio series. It was only natural that they invited Roy to make a guest appearance on their show, on which he sang the Fred Rose song "Rose Of Ol' Pawnee."

CANDY KISSES - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & Foy Willing & The Riders Of The Purple Sage
(4/21/49) Western Hit Review

Country singer Lorrie Morgan comes from good musical stock: she is the daughter of George Morgan, who was one of the best smooth-voiced balladeers country music has ever produced. George's first success came in 1949, when he wrote and recorded "Candy Kisses." Later that year Dale Evans, backed by Foy Willing & The Riders Of The Purple Sage, sang the song in Roy's film Down Dakota Way.

DON'T EVER FALL IN LOVE WITH A COWBOY - Dale Evans
(4/26/49) RCA Victor single

Dale always enjoys telling how she was billed fourth in Roy's films after Roy, Trigger (the Smartest Horse in the Movies), and Gabby Hayes. Years before Willie Nelson sang "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys," Dale wrote "Don't Ever Fall In Love With A Cowboy," in which she warns the girls that a cowboy will always love his horse the best. Well maybe, but not if you're lucky enough to find someone as special as Dale.

STAMPEDE - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers
(12/1/49) RCA Victor single

The thing that cowboys feared most in the days of the Old West was a stampede. When cattle became restless, the cowboys who rode night guard would often sing softly to the herd as they tried to keep them calm. Sometimes this worked, but there were other times when thunder, lightning, or a gunshot would set the herd off. In Roy's 1950 film Trigger, Jr., he and The Riders Of The Purple Sage sang the dramatic Foy Willing and Darol Rice song "Stampede," which gives a good example of the terror a stampeding herd could cause. On this recording of the song Roy is accompanied by The Sons Of The Pioneers.

MAY THE GOOD LORD TAKE A LIKIN' TO YOU - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & Foy Willing & The Riders Of The Purple Sage
(8/50) "Guest Star" Treasury Department radio program - U.S. Savings Bonds Division

After delivering a pitch for savings bonds, Roy, Dale & The Riders Of The Purple Sage join together for "May The Good Lord Take A Likin' To You," based on the phrase Roy used when he signed off at the end of each of his appearances on radio, television, and in person. Roy and Peter Tinturin turned "Goodbye, good luck, and may the good Lord take a likin' to you" into this song, which was also FEATUREd in Roy's then-current film, Trigger, Jr.

A FOUR-LEGGED FRIEND - Roy Rogers
(3/5/52) RCA single

THERE'S A CLOUD IN MY VALLEY OF SUNSHINE - Roy Rogers
(3/5/52) RCA single

CALIFORNIA ROSE - Roy Rogers
(4/21/52) RCA single

Bob Hope and Jane Russell's 1948 film, The Paleface, was so successful that Bob decided to do a sequel. Son Of Paleface FEATUREd Bob and Jane, along with Roy Rogers and Trigger. Most people (including the critics) thought that Trigger stole the film. The scene where Bob and Trigger share a bed with both fighting over who gets the cover is one of the funniest moments ever put on film. In addition to the comedy, Son Of Paleface had some fine songs including "California Rose," by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, "There's A Cloud In My Valley Of Sunshine," by Lyle Moraine and Jack Hope (Bob's brother), and the Jack Brooks song "A Four-Legged Friend," which was one of Roy's biggest hits in England.

HAPPY TRAILS - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans with The Whippoorwills
(4/21/52) RCA Victor single

For several years Roy used "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" as his theme song before switching to the song "Smiles Are Made Out Of The Sunshine." Dale felt that the King of the Cowboys needed a theme song that had more of a Western image, and since Roy often signed his autographs, "Trails of happiness, Roy Rogers and Trigger," she came up with the idea for "Happy Trails." Dale wrote the song in 1951, and she and Roy introduced it on one of their radio broadcasts. A few months later The Roy Rogers Show made its television debut with Roy and Dale singing "Happy Trails" over the closing credits each week. The song quickly became synonymous with Roy and Dale and has gone on to become a part of Americana.

HAZY MOUNTAINS - Roy Rogers, Dale Evans & Foy Willing & The Riders Of The Purple Sage
(8/50) "Guest Star" Treasury Department radio program - U.S. Savings Bonds Division

Dale Evans is one of the most talented people you can imagine. She has written more than two dozen books and has proven herself to be a fine songwriter with numbers such as "Happy Trails" and "The Bible Tells Me So," among many others. Dale got the idea for "Hazy Mountains" while riding up to a film location. As she looked out into the distance she saw a cloud layer that gave the mountains a beautiful, hazy appearance. Before she had arrived at the location, she had written the song.

TUMBLING TUMBLEWEEDS - Roy Rogers & The Sons Of The Pioneers with Ralph Edwards
(1/14/53) This Is Your Life television show

During the fall of 1932 Bob Nolan looked out his window on a rainy day and saw the leaves falling to the ground. From this image he sat down and wrote a poem titled "Tumbling Leaves." After The Pioneer Trio was formed, Bob added music to his poem, and the group began singing the song on their radio broadcasts. Before long the station began receiving letters asking the group to sing the song about the "tumbling weeds." Bob made a few changes to the lyric and "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" was born. Rarely has there been a more perfect blending of lyric and melody than in this Western classic. Since that day "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" has been The Sons Of The Pioneers ' theme song. When Roy Rogers appeared as the surprise subject on Ralph Edwards' This is Your Life television program, the Pioneers came out and spoke about their difficult early days, when they had almost starved to death. When Edwards asked Roy to sing "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" with the group, he asked if he needed a copy of the words, but Roy had no need for this since he knew the song as well as the Pioneers did. Ralph Edwards later said that he received more requests to do Roy's story on This Is Your Life than any other person during the show's ten-year run.

ALLA EN EL RANCHO GRANDE - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(5/12/54) The Roy Rogers Show

The Mexican influence on cowboy music and the Old West cannot be overstated. The Western saddle, the lasso, and the guitar all owe a lot to the Mexican vaqueros. The guitar replaced the banjo as the West's favorite musical instrument, and songs such as "Alla En El Rancho Grande" continued the south of the border tradition. Written by J. Del Moral and Silvano Ramos with English lyrics by Bartley Costello, the song was popularized by Bing Crosby's 1939 hit record. The Sons Of The Pioneers perform the song in Roy's 1946 film My Pal Trigger.

THE OREGON TRAIL - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(6/24/54) The Roy Rogers Show

Trail songs have been a mainstay in Western music from the very start. One of the oldest of these songs was "The Old Chisholm Trail," which told about one of the first trails to be blazed from Texas to the railroad towns in Kansas, from which the cattle could be shipped to market. Roy's films included Along The Navajo Trail, On The Old Spanish Trail, and Grand Canyon Trail. In 1935 Billy Hill and Peter DeRose teamed up to write "The Oregon Trail," one of the best of the many trail songs.

THAT LUCKY OLD SUN (JUST ROLLS AROUND HEAVEN ALL DAY) - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(9/16/54) The Roy Rogers Show

By 1954 Roy's radio series had changed from a musical program to an adventure show. At the end of each week's story Roy and Dale would sing a song before bidding good night to the audience. One of the best songs they performed during the 1954 season was "That Lucky Old Sun," written by Haven Gillespie (whose songs include "Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town" and "You Go To My Head") and Beasley Smith (writer of "Beg Your Pardon" and "Night Train To Memphis"), who was one of the first songwriters to come out of Nashville. The song will always be identified with Frankie Laine, who recorded the classic version of this fine song.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(3/24/55) The Roy Rogers Show

Even the best songwriters can sometimes be mistaken about their own songs. Gordon Jenkins, one of the top arrangers and conductors from the '30s through the '60s had also written songs such as "Goodbye" and "This Is All I Ask," but he didn't think much of his song "San Fernando Valley." Jenkins often performed the song at parties as an example of a nondescript pop song. However, Bing Crosby thought otherwise about it, and his recording of the song became a huge hit and was one of his most requested numbers in his tour of the front lines during World War II. The song's popularity led Republic Pictures to use it as the title of Roy's June 1944 film release. San Fernando Valley is one of the few films in which Roy and Dale actually get to kiss. It happens in a scene where Dale kisses Roy in the hopes of discouraging her younger sister's infatuation with him. That kiss must have worked, because the film ends with a scene at a Spanish mission where Roy has married Dale, each of The Sons Of The Pioneers has gotten married, and even Gabby Hayes (who played Dale's father) has remarried.

THE STRAWBERRY ROAN - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(4/15/54) The Roy Rogers Show

Along with trail songs, cowboys enjoyed singing songs about the toughest horses they ever rode. It seems as if every cowboy has come across an unbreakable bronc. One of the best of these songs is "The Strawberry Roan," based on a poem by Curley Fletcher which was revised by Fred Howard and Nat Vincent--two of the most prolific songwriters of the '30s, with songs such as "When The Bloom Is On The Sage" and "My Pretty Quadroon" to their credit.

OL' MAN RIVER - Roy Rogers
(5/6/54) The Roy Rogers Show

Roy started his career by singing country songs, before moving on to Western songs. As his popularity grew he began singing some of the day's top pop songs along with some of the great standards from years past. His daughter Cheryl always liked the tune "Ol' Man River," written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein, II for the Broadway musical Show Boat, so Roy decided to sing it just for her on one of his radio broadcasts.

RIVER OF NO RETURN - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans
(7/22/54) The Roy Rogers Show

The film River Of No Return was centered around a treacherous escape down a raging river. Somehow the turbulent river, the beautiful scenery, and Robert Mitchum were all overshadowed by Marilyn Monroe, whose career was just taking off. The film's title song was written by Lionel Newman, who spent more than 40 years in Hollywood writing and conducting film scores as varied as Compulsion and Hello, Dolly! and who also wrote songs such as "Again." Ken Darby, the cowriter of "River Of No Return," was the leader of The King's Men vocal group and worked on many movies, but he is best remembered for writing the songs for Elvis Presley's first film, Love Me Tender.

PEACE IN THE VALLEY - Roy Rogers
(4/12/62) Capitol album

After Roy and Dale lost their daughter Robin, Roy decided to add a song of faith to his performances. He chose Thomas A. Dorsey's inspirational "Peace In The Valley" as one of the songs he would sing at his and Dale's month-long engagement at the rodeo at Madison Square Garden in New York. When the Garden's management asked Roy to drop this song, he refused because he felt compelled to use his position as a role model to encourage kids (and adults) to make religion an important part of their lives. Roy's judgment proved right, as his performance of "Peace In The Valley" brought a hush to the huge arena each evening.

MONEY CAN'T BUY LOVE - Roy Rogers
(5/21/70) Capitol single

Roy was always proud of the fact that he had grown up on a farm. He always remained a country boy at heart, and he loved country music. Throughout his career he FEATUREd country songs in his films, his television appearances, and on his records. In May 1970 Capitol Records had Roy fly to Nashville to record the album The Country Side Of Roy Rogers. The album's hit single was "Money Can't Buy Love," which was written by Betty Craig.

LOVENWORTH - Roy Rogers
(10/29/70) Capitol single

The success of "Money Can't Buy Love" was quickly followed by Roy's hit recording of "Lovenworth" by Jerry Crutchfield, Don Earl, and Nick Nixon and was also recorded in Nashville. When the Country Music Association awards show was televised for the first time in 1968, Roy and Dale were the program's hosts. In 1980 Roy was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame as a member of the original Sons Of The Pioneers. Eight years later he became the first person to be voted into the Hall of Fame twice, when he was elected as solo performer.

HOPPY, GENE AND ME - Roy Rogers
(10/31/74) 20th Century single

Record Producer Snuff Garrett grew up with Roy Rogers as his hero. After moving to Hollywood and producing hits by Julie London, Bobby Vee, Cher, and many more, he got to know Roy. Along with Stephen Dorff and Milton L. Brown, Snuff came up with the idea for the song "Hoppy, Gene And Me," which helped a generation remember their cowboy heroes. Roy's recording of this song became a surprise hit and climbed high on the pop and country charts in 1975.

LORD HAVE MERCY ON MY SOUL (A SINNER'S PRAYER) - Roy Rogers
(4/13/77) Word album

The most powerful song Roy ever wrote came about in quite an unusual way. Early in 1956 Roy was returning from a hunting trip when he came up with the idea for the songs "Read The Bible And Pray" and "Lord Have Mercy On My Soul (A Sinner's Prayer)." While he drove, he had his hunting partner take down the words to both songs. "Lord Have Mercy On My Soul" gives an insight into Roy's serious side and shows just how important his faith was to him.

ALIVE AND KICKIN' - Roy Rogers
(10/90) RCA album

In 1990 RCA Records talked Roy into recording the Roy Rogers Tribute album, which FEATUREs a mixture of new songs along with a few of his old favorites. An array of top country singers, including Randy Travis, Clint Black, Emmylou Harris, and Willie Nelson, were delighted to join Roy on the album. Roy decided to write a special song for the occasion and came up with "Alive And Kickin'," which reflects both his gratitude to his fans and his positive outlook on life.

KING OF THE COWBOYS - Roy Rogers, Jr.
(10/90) RCA album

Roy Rogers, Jr., has been known as Dusty since the day he was born. Dusty is a fine singer who's made a number of recordings and who still finds time to make personal appearances with his band, The High Riders. Since 1986 he has operated The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum in Victorville, California. Dusty wanted to write something special for his father, and after a considerable amount of time and effort he and Larry Carney, one of his band members wrote "King Of The Cowboys." The song perfectly captures the essence of what Roy Rogers is all about: his strength, his dignity, and his integrity. Whenever Roy heard Dusty sing "King Of The Cowboys," he'd always have to brush a few tears from his eyes. (Listen carefully, and you'll notice that although Roy's name is never mentioned there's no mistaking who Dusty is singing about.)

ROY ROGERS RIDERS CLUB PRAYER - Roy Rogers
(circa 1950) Theatrical short

In the days before every home had a television set, kids really looked forward to the Saturday matinee at their local movie theaters, especially when they'd get a chance to see a Roy Rogers film. Many of these theaters participated in meetings of the Roy Rogers Riders Club, so Roy decided to make a special short film that could be played before the start of his latest film. The full-color short began with Roy riding up on Trigger, dismounting, and greeting the audience. Then with head bowed he recited a prayer which he hoped would inspire them to become upstanding citizens. Listen to the prayer just as Roy delivered it in countless movie theaters throughout the country.

HAPPY TRAILS - Roy Rogers & Dale Evans with Frank Worth & His Orchestra
(11/51) Television series

For millions of people around the world, watching The Roy Rogers Show on television was the highlight of each week. At the end of each program Roy and Dale sang their theme song over the show's credits. Here to close this collection is the actual recording of "Happy Trails" that was heard at the end of each program. The is the first time this classic version has ever been released on record.

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