Beginning in 1935 up until 1952 and the decline of the B western, Starrett made 115 westerns with over 100 featuring western music. He gave the Sons of the Pioneers (with Roy) a prominent role in his first western movie - Gallant Defender (1935). The Sons became featured regulars in Starrett westerns at Columbia until 1941, making them a regular feature in B-Western films in the 2nd half of the decade and into the 1940s. And Starrett made sure that their music was featured, not just used as background music with lots of dialog spoken over it. Complete songs were used, songs composed by Nolan & Spencer that were being introduced to the public through Starrett’s movies.

  Starrett made his first Durango Kid film in 1940, and the Sons of the Pioneers were featured in it. In 1941, The Sons of the Pioneers joined Roy Rogers at Republic Studios. Smiley Burnette, a great musician in his own right (and member of the Hall of Fame), was Starrett’s co-star for a number of years from the mid 40s until Starrett's retirement in ‘52. Starrett was not a musician, but he invited western musicians to appear in his very popular films throughout his long career. The following is a partial list of those he helped along the way by giving them national exposure: Sons of the Pioneers, Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, Pee Wee King & his Golden West Cowboys, The Cass County Boys, Merle Travis, Hank Penney, T Texas Tyler, Elton Britt, Doye O'Dell, Jack Guthrie, Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards, Ernest Tubb, Jimmy Wakley Trio, Spade Cooley, Carolina Cotton and many others.

Awards:

• 2021 Hall of Fame Inductees