The Sons of the Pioneers appear in concert on Tuesday, June 20 at the Abbotsford Arts Centre (2329 Crescent Way), starting at 7 p.m.
The group is synonymous with the ultimate in cowboy music, with original songs that include Tumbling Tumbleweeds, Cool Water and Ghost Riders in the Sky.
Both Tumbleweeds and Cool Water have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
The group was first started by Roy Rogers and the gifted songwriters Bob Nolan and Tim Spencer, garnering national and international fans through appearances in almost 100 western films from the 1930s to ’50s.
When television came along, they regularly appeared on the Roy Rogers Show and had guest appearances on such programs as the Barbara Mandrell Show.
Walt Disney called upon the Pioneers to supply the soundtrack for the film Pecos Bill. They were the first cowboy musical group to perform at Carnegie Hall and the first to headline in Las Vegas casinos.
The current group’s configuration is part of a continuous and uninterrupted 80-year existence in which they have accumulated more coveted honors and awards than anyone in western music.
The group has been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Western Music Association Hall of Fame and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame among others. The Smithsonian Institute named them as “national treasures.”
The Pioneers are known around the world for their unique three- and four-part harmonies. Each of the five members shares the vocals and instrumentals.
Part of the hallmark sound comes from acoustic fiddles, mandolin, upright bass, and lead and rhythm guitars.
Tickets are available through chilliwackculturalcentre.ca or by phone at 1-604-391-7469.
