Roy Howard Lanham (January 16, 1923 – February 14, 1992) was an American guitarist. Best known for his work with the Western-style vocal band Sons of the Pioneers between 1961 and 1986, he had a long career that spanned from the prewar years to his death. His main style was early country and Western swing, although he could also play jazz remarkably well. His name never quite achieved widespread notoriety; but within the music industry and his peers, he was considered on a par with the likes of Merle Travis and Chet Atkins.

Roy Lanham was born in Corbin, KY. He learned to play the guitar at an early age, and by his teenage years he was playing rhythm guitar for different bands’ radio performances. In 1939, country singer and humorist Archie Campbell auditioned Lanham for inclusion in his group, and was so impressed by the youngster’s playing that Lanham left with Campbell’s group on the very next day. After moving to Knoxville, TN, he worked with the band The Stringdusters, which included two eclectic musicians also well versed in jazz—Homer Haynes and Jethro Burns (who would later become the musical humor duo Homer and Jethro). The two introduced Lanham to jazz, and he soon became influenced by the guitar-playing of the likes of Charlie Christian and Django Reinhardt.