AMG Review of Country Music Hall of Fame Series

Brian Mansfield
All Music Guide

When Gene Autry got into a contract dispute with Republic Pictures in 1937, the studio replaced him with Sons of the Pioneers member Len Slye, whose name they changed to Roy Rogers. These Decca tracks, which range from 1934 to 1942, cover Rogers's output just before he became "King of the Cowboys" with the release of Ridin' Down the Canyon. Two of these cuts were recorded with The Sons of the Pioneers; the rest are solo.