This site was created in loving memory of Bob Nolan by his only grandson Calin Coburn and archivist Elizabeth Drake McDonald.

 

Calin's Grandparents,

Pearl & Bob Nolan

1930

 


 

 NEED HELP?

FAQ

PUZZLES

PHOTO COLLECTIONS

LOST NOLAN SONGS

LISTS & MORE LISTS

 


 

Song for Bob Nolan

by Ray Kraft

 


Bob Sings Solo


 

Tune Your Guitar and Sing Along

 

Lyrics with chords for easy playing.

 


 

You'll hear "Cool Water" in the animated film, "Rango"

 

 

 

 

 

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.  Check out the hundreds of recordings of these two songs.

     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 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 tragically brief 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
 

 

 


 

SPECIAL SALES

 

Old western movies for sale

Ken Griffis Interviews for sale

Scans of Bob Nolan sheet music
 

 

     

 

 

The Sons of the Pioneers are coming to Canada in 2012!

 

Your Messages
 

Announcements

 

Buy or Sell FREE

 

 


 

SPECIAL FEATURES

 

 

 Song:

 

Wandering

 

Photo:

 

Party Time

 

Movie:

 

Melody Time

 

Spotlight:

 

Tommy Doss

 


 

Contact Us

Links

Radio and Net Radio

 


Sons of the Pioneers CD

 

AMERICAN COWBOY magazine article on the Sons of the Pioneers in Aug-Sept issue.

 

75th SONS OF THE PIONEERS ANNIVERSARY CONCERT DVD

 

New Robert Wagoner CD

 

 

Cool Water

 

Tumbling Tumbleweeds

 

Medley

 

Listen to hundreds of selections and enjoy unique new arrangements by a wide variety of singers and entertainers, past and present.

 


 

Jenny Richards Memorial Voice Scholarship

 

 

Casey Tibbs book by Rusty Richards


 

 

 

   

© 2009

Quis nos operor in vita refero in infinitio.