08/04/2025
Sons of the Pioneers surrenders Tommy to the Heavens
We are heartbroken to announce that Tommy Nallie, the Sons of the Pioneers affable and passionate former trail boss who extended the group’s legacy into a tenth decade, died Aug. 4 of prostate cancer at Cox Medical Center in Branson, Missouri. He was 77.
Nallie, born in Beaumont, Texas, in 1947, first joined the group in 1983 and represented the last of the hugely talented Nallie family dynasty that was a vital part of the Pioneers’ success since 1969, when his older brother Luther Nallie joined. Tommy took over as the group’s fourth trail boss in 2015, when Luther stepped down. Tommy recently handed the role of trail boss to fellow Pioneer John Fullerton.
A fine tenor singer, Nallie was also talented on guitar, bass, violin, drums, and other instruments, and his deep knowledge of the Pioneers’ musical catalog and intricate harmony arrangements provided a strong backbone for the group as it traversed a modern musical landscape. As a tireless leader, he was committed to keeping the group’s legacy alive and preserving the traditional “Pioneer sound.”
A full obituary with funeral arrangements will follow.
We thank Tommy for his stewardship, his passion, his talent, and his friendship. He was a lovable leader, and we will miss him deeply. Godspeed, Tommy.
