Bob retired from the Pioneers in 1949,but went back into the recording studio around 1978-79 to make a final LP with producer Snuff Garett;sadly passed away not too long after that. In 1949,he was replaced by Lloyd [Tommy] Doss,who sounded uncannily like him;he himself retired in 1963,but continued to record with the Pioneers until 1967...Doss returned to Enterprise,Oregon and just passed away this year at the age of 91....I was lucky enough to contact him in 2003,he wrote me two brief,but pleasant and informative notes;also sent me a cassette of rare studio stuff....he was very gratified that I had contacted him;his last note thanked me for my interest and ended "it would be nice if we could meet and talk sometime".....I will always regret that I didn't take him up on that offer,but Oregon is a long way from where I am. I personally think that,of the 40 or so men who have passed through that group,the 1949-1967 trio of Lloyd Perryman,Dale Warren and Doss was the finest male vocal group of all time....they've all passed away now,but the group continues to this day,fronted by Luther Nallie. With the possible exception of the Mormon Tabernacle choir,I believe the SOP is the longest extant musical group in American history....
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