The SOP continues as a six member western group;they have an easily accesible website.....no,it's NOT the "original" group;they'd all be over 100 years old by now...I have their recent live DVD performance,great singing and hot instrumentals....all acoustic..guitar,fiddles,string bass,great vocals....no,they don't have quite the"blend" of the several trios in the bands history,but it's a damn good blend and a textbook example of how six fine singers and players can do a show live,without drums,electric bass,etc,etc... The most distinctive trio "sound" was originally achieved by the lead of Tim Spencer,tenor of LLoyd Perryman,and baritone of Bob Nolan..when Nolan retired in 1949,he was replaced by Lloyd"Tommy"Doss,who sounded almost exactly like him,only with a bit more range.....Doss was with them from 1949 to 1963 on records and in person,he retired from the road but continued on recordings through 1967,when he returned permanently to Oregon to live the quiet life...he passed away not long ago at the age of 91. Many[including me]think the finest vocal trio of all who passed through the Pioneers was that of Doss[baritone]Dale Warren[lead]and Lloyd Perryman[tenor]....their RCA lp's of 1961-1967 are classics.. When Perryman died in 1977[still leading the group],Dale Warren took the reins and remained as leader until he too passed away in 2008 or thereabouts...Present leader is Luther Nallie,who joined in 1968[his son,John,came in for a few years].....more info than anyone really wants,I realize,but I feel the groups accomplishments and longevity should be noted....
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