1908 - 1980

Pencil Sketch by William Bowen

     Singer, songwriter, actor and poet, Bob Nolan was instrumental in creating "Western" music, a uniquely North American art form. Cool Water and Tumbling Tumbleweeds are two of his best-known songs but they are only the tip of the iceberg.

     Most of his songs were not derived from European folk music as were a large number of traditional "Cowboy" songs. They were not "Country" songs, either. Bob's were entirely original - often pure poetry set to unusual and difficult melodies. An admirer once told Bob that he painted the west and his brush was music.

     The new sound caught the imagination of the public in the early 1930s. Contemporary musicians began to imitate, western movies picked it up and the genre was popular for thirty years.

     The Biographies section opens a small window into the life of this private man by using slide shows and video clips from his films and hundreds of photos from his own personal collection. Read about his early life and career and also how he spent his retirement years. Learn more about his famous brother Earl, his half brother Mike, his adventurer father Harry, and the tragic life of his mother Flora.

     Sample over 150 of Bob Nolan's songs plus the  lyrics. Photocopied sheet music is for sale by request to Calin Coburn.

     His friends and co-workers recall their memories of Bob Nolan in Recollections. Read what his fans say about him in Reflections. If you have some stories or pictures of Bob Nolan  you would like us to put on our website, please Contact Us.

     Look through the photo collections of Bob's fans, read the old fan magazines and newsletters, Tumbleweed Topics and the Prairie Prattler.  Find the songs from the movies.

      Are you looking for Sons of the Pioneers CDs? Check out our Discography page with many reviews by OJ Sikes. You will also find that your favorite music vendor carries albums by current artists recording the old songs.

       Any and all copyright laws apply. This site is provided for your private study or reference only. Please apply for permission from Calin Coburn to use photos or text.  For permission to record Bob Nolan's songs, write to:

Mr. Sam Fein
c/o The Songwriter’s Guild of America
Att: Music of the West (Bob Nolan catalog)
209 10th Avenue South, Suite 321
Nashville, TN 37203

Phone: (615) 742-9945

Fax: (615) 742-9948

Email: sfein@songwritersguild.com