Dwight Moody Wins the CMS Lifetime Achievement Award!

During 2011, Dwight won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Charlotte Music Society.  Dwight became associated with the Briarhopper name when he joined forces with Homer (Briarhopper) Drye, who left WBT in 1940 and formed "The Dixie Dudes" in Raleigh.  Congrats Dwight!

Welcome the Newest WBT Briarhopper!

Here is Benton Briarhopper!  He is the grandson of Tim Drye and the great-grandson of Homer Briarhopper Drye!  I wonder what instrument he will be playing? 

Never Mess With A Briarhopper!

This photo comes from Reno Bailey's superduper site, www.btmemories.com.  Here is the former heavyweight boxing champion of the world, Jack Dempsey, being held accountable for something by Fred Kirby, Whitey Grant, and Arvil Hogan!  This is the same attitude Fred would take to Tweetsie Railroad in fighting those Indians!  Thanks, Reno, for providing such a valuable service as your website!

Fiddling Dwight Moody in the hospital

Dwight caught a virus that went to his lungs.  He is in ICU in Matthews.  Medications appear to be popping the virus.  We know he will bounce back so we can hear his fiddle again!  Please keep him and his family in your prayers.

Kate Drye Mangum and Larry Mangum

Here is a great picture of Kate and Larry.  Kate is the sister of Homer A. Briarhopper (Homer Drye) who taught Opry star Randy Travis how to play the guitar.  Larry is a great singer/songwriter whose base is in Jacksonville, FL.  Homer performed with the BHoppers from 1936-1940 and then formed his own band, The Dixie Dudes, in Raleigh.  He became a big time star on radio and TV there.  He became great friends with Elvis and started a famous entertainment venue in Raleigh that is still talked about today.  Thanks to Larry Mangum for letting us post this picture!

Remembering the WBT Briarhoppers we lost in 2011

As we look back, we again remember those band members we lost last year:  Newell Hathcock and David Deese.  We are sure they and the rest of the departed Briarhoppers will be on stage with us in 2012.

Happy New Year from The WBT Briarhoppers!

January 1, 2012, will mark the band's 78th year!  No group could make it this long without talented musicians to keep the tradition alive and all of the great fans who continue to support us.  Thanks to all and we hope to see you at our concerts during 2012!

What a Great Picture!

Here is Opry star George Hamilton IV with "The Show Stopper," Little Ellie Briarhopper!  We played a gig last month with George and he took a shine to Ms. Flowers.  The photo was taken by the Carolina's best music photographer, Daniel Coston!

Take a Look At This Photo!

Many thanks to Wesley Johnson, son of Red "Booger" Johnson of the famous Johnson Family Singers, for letting me share this photo...a stage shot of the Dixie Jamboree!   From left to right you will see the WBT Briarhoppers (including members of the Tennessee Ramblers Harry Blair and Cecil Cambell), the Rangers Quartet, and the Johnson Family Singers.  Cool photo!

Hit's Award Time for the Briarhoppers!

The WBT Briarhoppers won two awards from the NC Society of Historians on 10/22/11.  The Paul Green Multimedia Awards were for this website (thankyaverymuch) and for the band for "preserving the old time radio experience for today's audiences."

Big Bill Davis!

We heard from Shirley and Faith, the daughter and grand-daughter, respectively, of Big Bill Davis! 

Now we know a bit more about Bill, who was an original WBT Briarhopper member and the band's first bass player.  He retired to the High Point, NC, area and continued to play gigs with his friends at dinner clubs and colleges (where he played classical music).  According to Shirley, Bill retired from the BHoppers because he thought he was nearing retirement age.  However, he never retired from playing as we are told that his last gig was at Salisbury Veterans Hospital when he was 95 years old; he died in 1989 at age 97.

Hopefully we will get more information and pictures of Big Bill Davis, thanks to Shirley and Faith (last names withheld until I get permission to show full names).

"Flight of Honor" Gig!

Photo by Dan Coston

Even after some very personal TSA searches and the 30-minute wipe-down-for-explosives on Bertha The Blonde Bombshell (Tom's bass), the WBT Briarhoppers had a whiz-bang time entertaining WWII vets participating in the Flight of Honor program at Charlotte Douglas Airport.  Through sponsorships, the vets got to fly free to Washington, DC, to view the WWII memorial and other sites.  The USO asked the BHoppers to perform as the vets waited for their flight.  During WWII, CBS Radio beemed the Briarhopper Radio Show overseas, so some of the vets at our airport gig heard those broadcasts!  It was a humbling experience performing for them.

Festival In The Park Was A Blast!

We were proud and happy to perform on the Charlotte Folk Society stage at Festival In The Park in Charlotte!  No matter the biblical flooding hours before our show, the CFS folks worked their magic to insure people got to hear Producer Mark say, "It's 4:30 PM, B-u-l-o-v-a, Bulova Watch Time, Bulova Watch Company, 5th Avenue, New York," and for the band to perform "Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie."  Thanks to Wanda and Dennis and Cathey and the rest of the CFS team!

Wade Mainer Obituary

Music legend and Briarhopper friend, Wade Mainer, passed away,  Here is his obituary from his hometown paper in Flint, MI:

MAINER, Wade E. - Of Flint, age 104, died Monday, September 12, 2011 at his residence. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, September 16, 2011 at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint, Pastor Butch Martin, Reverend Ernest Davis and Reverend Darrell Milliman co-officiating. Burial in Crestwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Deliverance Tabernacle, G-4089 Fenton Rd., Burton, MI 48529, Carriage Town Ministries, 605 Garland St., Flint, MI 48502, Feed The Children, P.O. Box 36, Oklahoma City, OK 73101, 1-800-462-8948. Visitation 11 a.m - 8 p.m. Thursday at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road, Flint. Wade was born in Weaverville, NC on April 21, 1907. He married Julia Brown on November 28, 1937. He attended Deliverance Tabernacle. Mr. Mainer was employed by General Motors for 18 years, retiring in 1972 and was a member of UAW Local #659. Wade was considered the grandfather of Blue Grass Music and was the oldest living recording artist. He was a pioneer in Blue Grass and Country music. Surviving are wife, Julia; sons, William Frank and wife Eva of North Carolina, Kelly of Flint and Randall J. and wife Carma of Grand Blanc; daughter, Polly Hofmeister and husband Ralph Frederick of Rochester Hills, Michigan; two grandchildren, Stacie and husband Stephan Hoffmann of California and Todd and wife Andrea Hofmeister of Illinois; three great-grandchildren, Melina Hoffmann, Sophia and Benjamin Hofmeister; several step-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Leon Spain, in 1985. Your condolences may be shared with the family at swartzfuneralhomeinc.com

Hickory Grove UMC Bluegrass Festival

On September 10, 2011, George Hamilton IV, Pinetucket, Amantha Mills, and the WBT Briarhoppers will perform at Hickory Grove UMC, Charlotte, NC.   Come on out and see some legendary performers!  http://www.hickorygrovebluegrass.com/Events.html

Ride Ranger Ride

Here is a lobby card for the Gene Autry film, "Ride Ranger Ride."  At the far right of the card, you can see Fiddlin' Hank Warren and the Tennessee Ramblers!  They, along with Don White and Claude Casey, were in many Western prior to 1941.  This is too cool!

Antique Radios!

Here is Dwight Moody and Ron Lawrence at Ron's studio in Wesley Chapel, N.C. Ron has an extensive collection of antique radios and is a member of the Antique Radio Club, http://antiqueradiocharlotte.homestead.com/. 

The radio tube is from the WBT tower.  Cool collection! 

Fiddlin' Hank Warren!

Fiddlin' Hank Warren joined the WBT Briarhoppers in 1938 and became an instant hit!  Combining comedy with expert fiddlisms, Hank was always a crowd favorite.  He played in Doug Poole's band (Doug was Charlie Poole's boy), The Swingbillies, and also played with the Tennessee Ramblers.  Hank retired as WBT/WBTV's photographer and passed in 1993.

Here is an old photo of Whitey & Hogan

Here is one of the last old photos that I got from eBay a few months ago...Whitey and Hogan!  Again, the BHoppers would take real photos and send them to Chicago, have them reproduced on cheap paper, and sell them for 5 cents a piece.  They would make more money if they did separate photos...Whitey and Hogan, Claude, Fred, Hank, and others.  These pictures are really rare due to the cheapness of the paper, so if you find any, get them!  Next will be Fiddlin' Hank Warren!

How neat is this?

Going way back, listeners would send a letter to WBT and let them know what town or state they were in when they caught the radio signal.  WBT would, in turn, send back a card or a verification stamp back to the letter writer.  Too cool and this is from eBay.

If You Were Not In Lincolnton, You Missed A Great Show!

Here are the WBT Briarhoppers on July 9th, 2011, at the Lincoln Cultural Center in Lincolnton, NC, with guest guitarist Lee Jones.  If you have the chance to see a show or view an exhibit or do anything else at the Lincoln Cultural Center, please take the time and do it!  Many thanks to Center Director Cathy Davis and all of her staff in making this a great concert!

Check out the WBT Briarhoppers in the Gaston Gazette!

This comes before our gig on July 9 in Lincolnton, NC!
http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/briarhoppers-58684-wbt-alive.html

The WBT Briarhoppers to Play in Lincolnton, NC!

Yep, the BHoppers will be performing on Saturday, July 9, beginning at 7 PM, at the Lincoln Cultural Center, 403 East Main Street, downtown Lincolnton, NC.  Please go to http://lincolnculturalcenter.homestead.com/ to see the facility and we look forward to seeing you there!

The WBT Briarhoppers at The Great Aunt Stella Center

It was called by the Charlotte Folk Society as "legendary."  The WBT Briarhoppers are indeed back with the old radio show!  Left to right:  Dwight Moody; Hannah Flowers; Richard Hollis; Dillon Flowers; Alana Flowers; Tom Warlick.

(photo by Daniel Coston)

The best comment of the show was:  Many thanks to you both and all the 'Hoppers for an awesome concert Friday night! My favorite audience member was the 94 year old woman who had been married in the church housing Great Aunt Stella and had been to the Wilder Bldg. to the WBT studios to see the Briarhoppers live!



Check out the WBT Briarhopper Story in the Charlotte Observer

Joe DePriest did a great article on our newest Briarhoppers!  This story heralds the BHopper Concert at the Great Aunt Stella Center in Charlotte on June 10, 2011, with special guests Chris and Wes Johnson of the Johnson Family Singers, and Larry Mangum, nephew to Homer Briarhopper Drye.  Come on out!


 http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/06/07/2357274/new-faces-for-briarhoppers.html