Search - Roy Rogers :: Country Music Hall of Fame

Before his rise as a film and television star, Roy Rogers had a significant impact on country music, first as a member of the Sons of the Pioneers, then as a solo act. This 16-song set chronicles his recordings for Decca in the 1930s and '40s. Rogers's delightful voice rings out high above the music on these classics, displaying a beautiful tone and depth of emotion. Two early hits with the Sons kick off the collection: "I'm an Old Cowhand," a swinging romp complete with perfect harmonies, group yodels, and Hugh Farr's sprite fiddle; and "Moonlight on the Prairie," a soft ballad of the plains on which Farr's somber fiddle work adds to the lonesome mood. Rogers's solo work focuses attention on his own considerable vocal talents through a range of material: songs from the books of Gene Autry and Bob Wills, cowboy love songs, World War II-era laments, and most significantly, tributes to the open spaces of the Old West. --Marc Greilsamer