JO STAFFORD / STAFFORD SISTERS (1937) SONS & DAUGHTERS OF PIONEERS

This priceless piece of Jo Stafford history is from a transcription disc, made in 1937 by KHJ radio, Los Angeles. The Stafford Sisters (Jo, Pauline, Christine) were dubbed the Daughters of the Pioneers, just for this event, and sing background for the legendary Sons of the Pioneers, as well as one song by themselves, featuring Jo. The 15-minute live program, titled "The Open Spaces," used the sound effects of a galloping horse (the "Night Rider") between the songs. This seems to be the only broadcast, and it is believed ABS decided not to schedule any more "Open Spaces" shows.
Since the Stafford Sisters made no records that anyone knows of, this recording is likely the only one in existence by them.
The only known photo of the sisters inexplicably turned up on the front cover of a sheet music folio, titled "Home & Hill Country Ballads," a 1941 publication (as seen in our slideshow).
One click for a quick jump to:
1:14 "Cool Water" Sons and Daughters of the Pioneers (Lead vocal, Leonard Slye, a.k.a. Roy Rogers)
4:21 "Ridin' Down the Canyon" (Lead vocal, Jo Stafford)
6:47 "Chant of the Plains (I Need You)" Sons of the Pioneers (Featuring Bob Nolan)
9:11 "Blue Prairie" Sons and Daughters of the Pioneers

[@jlmmcguirkmusic6050]

Exellent piece of musical history. Thanks for posting.

[@Trombonology]

This is really a find. Jo is my all-time favorite singer, and it's wonderful to get to hear how she sounded in the context of the Stafford Sisters -- famous now as the launching pad for this incredibly talented, versatile and successful artist.

[@jack5787]

Louis Prima and His New Orleans Gang's May 17, 1936 recording of "Let's Get Together and Swing", Brunswick 7740, shows "The Three Stafford Sisters" along with Louis Prima as the vocal chorus on the record. This 78 rpm record with a photo was for sale on E-bay. You can listen to this recording and download it on www.jazz-on-line.com. Sounds like the same Stafford Sisters.

[@jimbo27a]

A fantastic piece of Music. From Jo and her Sister's backing the Son's of The Pioneers..Really a great choice from their early days..

[@mcfrdmn]

Lovely musical performance!

[@onanisle]

amazing find

[@nellwackwitz]

What a wonderful broadcast! Thanks so much for posting!! :)

[@horarwgt]

After Karen Carpenter, Jo Stafford is my all-time favorite female singer. Check out her hit version of "Serenade of the Bells." Incredibly, Jo never cared for the song -- but her version remains one of her finest and most moving vocal performances.

[@waynebrasler]

They are heard on the soundtracks of a few 1940s Hollywood musicals but not seen. There is another photo of them but I don't know where to access them. It is so wonderful to finally HEAR them like this. Everyone has always wondered what they sounded like. Here's the answer. They sound like Jo Stafford.

[@songanddanceman100]

www.bobnolan-sop.net/Biographies/Bob%20Nolan/Bob%20Nolan%20bio/Bob%201935-1940.htm The Open Spaces www.bobnolan-sop.net/Biographies/Bob%20Nolan/Audio/Open%20Spaces.mp3 "1937 saw the Pioneers moving to KHJ where they had a spot on Peter Potter's Hollywood Barn Dance with the Four Squires and the Stafford Sisters-Christine, Pauline and Jo, etc. The voices of the Sons of the Pioneers and the Stafford Sisters blended beautifully and Bob conceived the idea of joining the two groups and calling themselves The Sons and Daughters of the Pioneers. He put together a pilot radio show, The Open Spaces, with Harry Hall as MC. It was aired at least once and then dropped. Jo Stafford remembers the fun they had together building the program and even now she cannot understand why it did not catch on."

[@bepvonk6136]

i like this music,the real pioneers are my favourite and of course Jo Staffor,she had a crush on Roy Rogers

[@lgscorp2008]

Where in the world did you find this?? Please post more.

[@raymondhorton1711]

Can you imagine Jo Stafford and Sylvester Slye (Roy Rogers), second from the right in the picture, together? Very good.

[@lgscorp2008]

I believe his name was Leonard. Check Wikipedia.

[@lgscorp2008]

Where did you find this?? Fabulous find!

[@geraldosterberg6334]

Not sure if the person identified in Stafford Sisters photo is actually Jo.