Memories from the Homestead: Pioneer treasures—Tommy Nallie [Part one]

Today I'd like to share with you the many memories of the great Tommy Nallie—a man that I, and many others have admired. For me, almost forty years. It's difficult to find a spot to begin.  I'll be honest, the past few weeks have been a whirlwind beyond anything I could have dreamed of. Those of us close to him are still catching our breath.

     Tommy passed away on the morning of August 4 at Cox Branson, after a battle with prostate cancer. He was 77, leaving us 28 days before his 78th birthday. He was our Sons of the Pioneers Trail Boss, only the fourth in the group's 91-year history as well as the group's fourth lead guitarist. He had one of the most impressive voices in Western music; he could sing any vocal part, yodel up a storm, plus, he was a versatile musician, handling multiple instruments with ease. He was the greatest teacher I could have ever asked for.  

The Sons of the Pioneers, summer of 1983. Left to right: Dale Warren, Luther Nallie, Tommy Nallie, Rusty Richards and Roy Lanham (Photo courtesy of the Sons of the Pioneers Museum)

     I'd like to provide a look back at some of Tommy's early memories and give you a biographical sketch, with a few of his memories related in his own words. Next week, I'll share a few of my memories and personal moments together from our almost 40-year relationship. 

     Tommy was born in Beaumont, Texas, on August 31, 1947. His parents were Joseph and Virginia (Perricone) Nallie. Tommy was their thirdborn son. Raymond was born in 1931, Luther (1934), Tommy (1947), and Jack (1949).

     "Music was always in my family as far back as I can remember," Tommy recalled in a 1994 biographical sketch he prepared. "My earliest memories are of Luther and Raymond playing and singing in local night clubs.  When I was very young, I recall my mom and Dad taking me to see them play at a drive-in restaurant. The band was on a flatbed truck, and I remember that George Jones was in the band. That was around 1952. It had a great influence on me."

     In 1955 Tommy became quite interested in taking up an instrument.  "Luther was working at a music store, and feeling that the violin was a good instrument to start on, he bought me a used fiddle and made arrangements for music lessons." Tommy would play all through school and by his senior year he was first chair in the orchestra.

     At age fourteen, he took up the bass. His dad loaned him some cash for the instrument, paying him back in weekly payments with earnings from playing night clubs in Beaumont. One of his first real gigs was with Luther and some ex-Texas Playboys, doing a few jobs in the Beaumont area. It was his first experience playing Western Swing.

     Graduating from South Park High School in 1965, Tommy could have gone on to college on a music scholarship but chose to join the Navy instead. Most of his time was spent on an aircraft carrier, and this is where he developed his love for ham radio; his brothers were all involved in amateur radio for years. Tommy was discharged in August 1968. After his time in the service he would move to Long Beach, California. In early 1969 Luther joined the Sons of the Pioneers, and Tommy a few months later would return to Beaumont. 

    Tommy recalled, "A band came through Beaumont and they were looking for a drummer. I hadn't been playing drums very long, but I auditioned and was hired." Tommy married Christine Dickman in 1971 and together they toured with several groups and played a number of USO shows. Tommy had the honor to perform with stars such as George Morgan, Wynn Stewart and Chubby Wise, to name a few.

     Tommy commented often about the number of times in the early 1970s he and Chris would find themselves performing in the same city where the Sons of the Pioneers were playing. "I remember one time we were performing in Colorado Springs, and Dale and Margie Warren dropped in. Margie had her fiddle and we asked her and Dale to join us onstage, and that was a real treat." Margie was a well-known West Coast fiddler who had performed for many years with Tex Ritter under the stage name of "Fiddlin' Kate."

     In May of 1983 Luther contacted Tommy, asking him to join the Pioneers for a week of performances in Nashville at Music Village. A set of drums were onstage at their first performance and Dale asked Tommy to sit in. He ended up playing the whole week. Tommy stated, "When the final show ended, I was informed the fellows had taken a vote and asked Dale to offer me a spot in the group. I lost no time in accepting as I notified my boss at a Beaumont car agency that I wouldn't be returning. Dale started giving me solo vocal parts right after I joined, and before long, I was doing some work in the trio. I spent many hours listening to the classic Pioneer recordings by Ken Carson and Lloyd Perryman picking out the tenor part."

     In 1984, the Sons of the Pioneers would come to Branson for what was to be a four-week engagement at the Lowe's Country Music Show. Due to the overwhelming response, the gig was extended two more weeks, and then in 1985, the Pioneers played the whole summer season.

    Next week, I will explain how an evening in October 1985 would change my life forever.  

     I want to thank everyone for all the comments, thoughts, prayers, cards and emails we have received in the past two weeks. Saying "thank you" is not enough as you folks have truly touched the Nallie family, my family and all the Pioneers.