Earlier this year Flying W Ranch started making big plans to celebrate its 60th anniversary as one of the area’s premier attractions and family-centered destinations. The headliners: legendary singing group The Sons of the Pioneers.

Then, on June 26, the Waldo Canyon wildfire struck, destroying the ranch and much of the neighborhood around it.

It didn’t destroy hopes and dreams. “We will Rebuild” signs popped up. Ash and debris was being removed and more than 23,400 fans hit the “Like” button on Facebook for Flying W.

The message: Move forward. Wednesday’s concert will go on as scheduled, just moving a short distance away to Woodmen Valley Chapel.

The “singing cowboy” music of The Sons of the Pioneers got its start with Westerns on film and radio in the 1930s. The original members — Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer and Roy Rogers (who used his birth name Leonard Sly) — created an entire library of music heard in more than 90 movies, on records and radio and, later, on television.

Turns out there is a wildfire connection as well as the longtime friend connection between the featured group, the ranch and its singing Wranglers. Pioneers’ agent Bob Nolen discovered that when the Pioneers had a popular radio program in the 1950s, they did almost a year’s worth of “you, too, can prevent forest fires” public service announcements with Smokey the Bear. (Smokey is now just Smokey Bear).

The group sang the “Smokey the Bear” song, Smokey would chat about fire prevention with Hollywood celebrities such as Jack Benny, Red Skelton and Ronald Reagan and then there was an opportunity for the Pioneers to sing one of their own hits such as “Tumbling Tumbleweeds.” Smokey would share his hints about fire prevention.

Smokey has become a familiar figure here as well, helping people understand the danger of fires like Waldo Canyon.

After one of their headline shows in Branson last week, The Sons of the Pioneers sat down to answer some other questions:

The Gazette: Please tell us about the Pioneers.

Ricky Boen: Our group’s “Trail Boss” is Luther Nallie, who has contributed immeasurably to the Pioneers for over 43 years. He is a consummate musician whose rich baritone voice is a vital component to the unique harmony known as “the Pioneer sound.” He’s also a versatile instrumentalist who can provide whatever is needed from lead guitar riffs, to thumping an upright bass, to providing a dixieland clarinet.

Ken Lattimore is our tenor, furnishing the high harmonies. Ken plays fiddle and mandolin. Ken holds a degree in music and occasionally plays classical violin with some Texas symphonies during off-season. He’s been with the group since the 1990’s.

Randy Rudd has perhaps the best lead-singer voice the group has ever had. He supplies the rhythm guitar, sometimes at lightning speeds. Randy’s chatter and comedic impressions keep the show moving.

Mark Abbott plays the doghouse (upright) bass.  Before joining the Pioneers, Mark’s resume reads like a who’s who in Western music, having played with Ray Price, The Texas Playboys, Don Edwards and called into the recording studio with Marty Stuart and Willie Nelson.

Tommy Nallie has rejoined the group after a few years hiatus. Luther’s younger brother was a regular member back in the 1980’s. Tommy plays guitar, sings several of the harmony parts and is a virtuoso on the cowbell. We use his yodeling on songs like the classic “Way Out There.”

I’m Ricky Boen and I play both the four- and five-string fiddles. I was indoctrinated into Western music by my dad and grandad. By age 20, I had won the title World Champion Fiddle Player. I’ve done stints with Michael Martin Murphey, Red Steagall, Steve Wariner and Asleep at the Wheel.

Gazette: Have you all performed in Colorado Springs in the past? Had you visited Flying W Ranch?

Luther Nallie: In the early 1970’s the Pioneers performed at the Colorado Springs (Pikes Peak or Bust) rodeo. Dale Warren was the Pioneer Trail Boss at the time. He and I stayed with former member Pat Brady (Roy Rogers’ movie/TVs sidekick, who drove a jeep, Nellybelle). Brady was then living at Pine Cone Ranch near Colorado Springs. The area was so beautiful that Dale and I decided to buy homes and move our families there. Living in Colorado Springs was one of the best times in my life. We all became personal friends with (bullwhip specialist) Babe Humphries, who was then performing and running the Flying W Chuckwagon suppers. We’ve been out there numerous times. The Flying W has always had a top-notch band and has been one of the best run organizations I’ve known.

Gazette: With the fire, this concert has taken on a whole new meaning. It was special enough as a 60th anniversary celebration, but now has become one of those special memories people will have of the Waldo Canyon Fire year as well.

Randy Rudd: We were flattered when, months ago, we were asked to help celebrate the Flying W’s 60th Anniversary because we’ve had a mutual admiration society going on for a long time. Then came the fire. The human loss, the loss of the Flying W and the loss of our close friend David Bradley’s home is hard for us to accept. I can’t imagine the life-changing ramifications resulting from the fire. Since the first news, the victims have been in our prayers. We are very glad the decision was made to proceed with the concert because it gives us a chance to contribute in some small way. More importantly, it proves the indomitable spirit of the West still lives at the Flying W and in Colorado Springs.

Gazette: Since David Bradley is a former member of Sons of the Pioneers, will he be joining you onstage or will you team with the Wranglers for any songs? Any David Bradleystories?

Ken Lattimore: David Bradley is the best yodeling cowboy in the country. The Flying W is fortunate to have him. David worked on a independent project with Roy Rogers to help promote and preserve yodeling as an art form. Even though we’ve gone down separate trails we are still friends and keep in touch. The Wranglers will be performing during the first part of the concert. Details are still being ironed out so as of now we don’t know how the show format will end up.

Gazette: How often do you go on the road for concerts now? Looking at your Branson schedule, it doesn’t appear that you have much time during many months of the year?

Mark Abbott: We have a regular season at Shepherd of the Hills in Branson, Mo., that runs six nights a week from the first of May through the end of October. The other six months we have road dates from Idaho to Arizona to Wisconsin to Kansas to Tennessee. We are excited at having five performance dates this fall in Canada ending in Winnipeg. We also use the off-season to record and work on new material.