Prairie Pioneers KMBC Brush Creek Follies WIBC Jamboree KMBC Kansas City, MO KMMJ Clay Center, NE

About The Group The Prairie Pioneers were one of the early acts that starred on Kansas City radio station KMBC's Brush Creek Follies. Later the band would move to KMMJ in Grand Island, Nebraska. Chester Smith, the only living member of the group, told us that the band was only at KMMJ about a year. The station was sold and the new owners disbanded the cast at the station. Chet then left the group, being replaced by Cy Tuma. The new personnel then moved on to KVOO in Tulsa, Oklahoma where they enjoyed a long popular run as the Sons of the Range. Chet, born back in 1916, also told us a bit about this popular group. Chet played the guitar and sang the bass part on vocal numbers. Kenny McMeans played the fiddle as well as singing the tenor parts. The baritone of the group was George Maras, the bass fiddle player. the members of the band were Kenny McMeans. The lead singer was Joe Hall who played the banjo and accordion. Also performing with the group was Laura Lee Owens, the daughter of the legendary song writer, Tex Owens. Timeline and Trivia Notes Group Members included: Joe Hall, lead singer; banjo and accordion Chester Smith, bass vocals; guitar Kenny McMeans, tenor vocals; fiddle George Maras, baritone vocals; bass fiddle Credits & Sources Hillbilly-Music.com wishes to express its appreciation to Chester Smith for providing us with information and photos for this biography. Read More About The Group Printer Friendly Version