This photo comes from Reno Bailey's site, btmemories.com.
The Legendary WBT Briarhoppers!
Shannon Grayson
Today we remember the life and talent of Shannon Grayson who, as described by Whitey Grant, "our first and best banjo player." Charles Crutchfield called him, "that tall drink of water" and "one of the nation's top five-string banjo players." Shannon joined the BHoppers in 1942/43 and continued to perform until shortly before his death on May 10, 1993. He was also the leader of the Golden Valley Boys, a bluegrass/gospel band which recorded many records.
This photo comes from Reno Bailey's site, btmemories.com.
This photo comes from Reno Bailey's site, btmemories.com.
The WBT Briarhoppers with Pappy Sherrill and Snuffy Jenkins
Two freakin' legendary bands...Snuffy Jenkins and Pappy Sherrill of The Hired Hands and the WBT Briarhoppers! Here are from left to right, standing: Don White; Arval Hogan; Whitey Grant; Claude Casey; Pappy Sherrill. Snuffy Jenkins is sitting in a chair playing his contraption! Snuffy was the grandfather of bluegrass banjo and Earl Scruggs, Don Reno, and Shannon Grayson learned from him. Pappy Sherrill filled in on fiddle with the BHoppers when Hank Warren fell ill. What a great and historic photo!
David Deese a CB Junkie?
The late David Deese was a fantastical banjo player for Bill Monroe, J.E. Mainer, Red Smiley and the Bluegrass Cut-Ups, and the WBT Briarhoppers. We never knew he was a CB junkie!!! We found this file on the internet and is a CB postcard from his days with Smiley. Many CBers had their personal CB postcards printed and sent out to those who were contacted via the CB waves. This one is cool.
Keep on checking this site!
The WBT Briarhoppers were just notified of a major accomplishment but we are not allowed to announce it until the folks who presented us with the major accomplishment announces it first. Believe it, BHopper fans, the band has made the Big-Time. Keep in touch!
Here is a cool compilation of the BHoppers!
Bet you never knew the BHoppers had a steel guitar player, eh?
A Review of Our Recent Performance
The BHoppers performed for the second year in a row at the Carolinas Antique Radio Convention in Charlotte. We received this neat-o comment from an audience member from Pennsylvania! This is what keeps us going!
"I experienced this performance and thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked the 4 Flowers kids in the group. They are quite talented and their sibling interaction while performing is very sweet. The lead, Tom, makes you believe that his performance is exactly how it would have been portrayed in the early days of radio."
Cool beans and hit's still Briarhopper Time!
"I experienced this performance and thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked the 4 Flowers kids in the group. They are quite talented and their sibling interaction while performing is very sweet. The lead, Tom, makes you believe that his performance is exactly how it would have been portrayed in the early days of radio."
Cool beans and hit's still Briarhopper Time!
Another Award for the WBT Briarhoppers!
The band received a medal from Mecklenburg County, NC, for being a part of the county's 250th birthday as the band's history and new video was accepted on their celebratory website. Cool beans and thanks to Gary Black for his help in getting us hooked up!
Have You Found Us On Facebook?
Don't forget to "friend" us on our Facebook page? Where is it? Well, here you go!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Legendary-WBT-Briarhoppers/109094439116841
Hit's still Briarhopper Time!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Legendary-WBT-Briarhoppers/109094439116841
Hit's still Briarhopper Time!
Fiddlin' Hank and the Swingbillies
Happy Birthday to the WBT Briarhoppers!
Based on what Don White said, March 1, 1934 was the day the WBT Briarhoppers was formed. Happy 79th birthday to all of the WBT Briarhoppers! Hit's still Briarhopper Time!
Here is what you've been waiting for!!!!
Take a gander at our new studio video on YouTube! This was done at Woody's Recording Studio in Rock Hill, SC, and we cannot be more happy with the final product.
We elected to have the video in sepia to mimic "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" and it came out better than we could have imagined. Thanks to Woody's and thanks to the band for performing all of these songs (plus one which was recorded for a CD) in about one hour!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFYScqadMTI
We elected to have the video in sepia to mimic "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" and it came out better than we could have imagined. Thanks to Woody's and thanks to the band for performing all of these songs (plus one which was recorded for a CD) in about one hour!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFYScqadMTI
Bob Johnson Passes
The WBT Briarhoppers lost a friend yesterday. Wes and Chris Johnson announced Bob Johnson's death on Feb 15. Bob and twin brother Jim, along with Kenneth, Betty, Ma, and Pa, were the Johnson Family Singers, with a career from WBT to the Ed Sullivan Show. Keep 'em in your thoughts. "Precious Memories."
Left to right, Jim and Bob Johnson at the Double Door Inn - photo from The Johnson Family Singers Facebook page.
A Great Photo from a Fan!
We received this photo in an email...our fan found this in a book of poetry and wanted to know who was in it!
Left to right: Hank Warren; Claude Casey; Whitey Grant; Harry Blair; Arval Hogan; Fred Kirby; Homer Christopher; Big Bill Davis.
This photo was used in many advertising calendars. In the one we have, this photo is used along with an up-and-coming guitarist, Chester Adkins.
Cool beans!
Left to right: Hank Warren; Claude Casey; Whitey Grant; Harry Blair; Arval Hogan; Fred Kirby; Homer Christopher; Big Bill Davis.
This photo was used in many advertising calendars. In the one we have, this photo is used along with an up-and-coming guitarist, Chester Adkins.
Studio Day
The WBT Briarhoppers had a great day today (Saturday, Feb 9) at the studio recording and video-recording 6 songs in a little more than an hour. Our only hiccups were when we had to stop because we were laughing too much. Hit is still Briarhopper Time! Photos to come!
The WBT Briarhoppers Practicing, part two.
Hit this link to Youtube and hear a homemade classic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74sT2T1Z9eI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74sT2T1Z9eI
Arvil Hogan is Beaming with Pride!
Hit's Recording Time!
The current WBT Briarhoppers will be recording a video at Woody's Music at their recording studio in Rock Hill, SC! This is to be an introductory video since major festivals require a digital media package. Since Merlefest requested info on the band, we made the decision get recorded! Keep on checking this site and you may find a link to the video once we get it done! Woohoo!
Happy New Year!
Hank Warren
Happy Christmas to All!
From Alana, Hannah, Dillon, Ellie, Dwight, Little Billie Burton Daniel, and Tom, we hope y'all have a great holiday season.
The WBT Briarhoppers on "Carolina Camera"
If you scroll down this site, you will see that CJ Underwood featured the second version of the WBT Briarhoppers on "Carolina Camera," May 18, 1981! The guy on the right, Whitey Grant, hired me to be a part of the band. BT Memories is the brainchild of Reno Bailey!
The article says the group in the photo (Hank, Hogan, Don, and Whitey), started playing together in 1940. Whitey and Hogan joined the band in 1941. That was still a long time ago!
http://www.btmemories.com/articles/history/jc_snips/jc_snips_81.htmlj
The article says the group in the photo (Hank, Hogan, Don, and Whitey), started playing together in 1940. Whitey and Hogan joined the band in 1941. That was still a long time ago!
http://www.btmemories.com/articles/history/jc_snips/jc_snips_81.htmlj
Fiddlin' Dwight Wins An Award!
