The WBT Briarhoppers - 74 Years of Continuous Entertainment!

Take the WBT Briarhopper Test!

2008-07-14T06:35:00.000-07:00

How did the name “Briarhopper” come about?
Crutchfield stepped on a briar, jumped up, and yelled profoundly
Crutchfield was from Kentucky where locals are called “Briarhoppers”
Crutchfield saw a rabbit jump from a thicket and said “look at that Brairhopper”

What company called Crutch to ask if there was a hillbilly band to promote their products?
Consolidated Drug Trade Company
Price’s Chicken Coop
Duke Power
Mr. K’s Hamburger Joint

Why was the theme song “Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie” used on the radio show?
Nellie was the name of Crutch’s family poodle
This was Johnny McAllister’s favorite song
Nellie Magillicutty was the WBT receptionist
Fiddlin’ Hank Warren’s fiddle was named “Nellie”

Which Briarhopper became close friends with Billie Holiday during the 1940s?
Homer Drye
Jane Bartlett
Thorpe Westerfield
Billie Burton Daniel

Which of the above has a book out now and is having book signings near the NC coast?
Homer Drye
Jane Bartlett
Thorpe Westerfield
Billie Burton Daniel

Before Whitey and Hogan became Briarhoppers, what radio station did they have a program?
WLON – Lincolnton
WAYS – Charlotte
WGNC – Gastonia
WWNC – Asheville

Who was one of the first guests on Whitey and Hogan’s radio show mentioned above?
Uncle Dave Macon
The Carter Family
Bill Monroe
FDR

When asked about Gene Autry, which Briarhopper always responded, “Well, you know Gene?”
Don White
Cecil Campbell
Claude Casey
Fred Kirby

What was Fiddlin’ Hank Warren’s actual profession?
Mailman
Milkman
Cameraman
Comedian

Which country music star sold the Briarhoppers a rotten spare tire?
Jimmie Rodgers
Hank Snow
Bill Monroe
Ernest Tubb

The answers will appear next week on the blogsite!

Back to the 1960s!

2008-07-07T05:47:00.001-07:00

Imagine the WBT Briarhoppers' collective surprise when they turned on the radio, put the dial on 1110 AM to WBT, and who should be on the air but Briarhopper friend Ty Boyd! For 150 years (we wish it was, but he reigned from 1961 to 1973), Ty was The Morning Man on radio. With the unenviable task of taking over Grady Cole's spot behind the mic, Ty succeeded to join the pantheon of radio giants which include Cole, Charles Crutchfield, Doug Mayes, Doug Bell, and eventually, H.A. Thompson, Don Russell, and a scant few others. Now the head of Ty Boyd Executive Learning Systems, he has again worked his way to the top in executive training. Go to http://www.tyboyd.com/ to see what he is up to! The picture is from tyboyd.com.

Charles Crutchfield's Opinion of the WBT Briarhoppers

2008-06-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

On March 17, 1997, Charles Crutchfiel wrote a letter to Wayne Martin of the Cultural Arts Center in Raleigh, NC, to nominate the WBT BHoppers for the NC Folk Heritage Award. This scan of the letter may be too small to read; we would like to show you what Crutchfield said in the second and third paragraphs: Having been in radio (and television) for 47 years, before retiring 20 years ago, I had the good fortune of "growing up" with the Briarhoppers, as their announcer in the thirties and forties. In my considered judgment, the group contributed more to the heritage we all cherish than any group or individual I can think of. They "made" WBT the great station that it has been all these years.

Personally, I think one of the worst things to happen to me in my long career in broadcasting was the day the owners of WBT promoted me to management making it necessary to give up my role as "Charlie Briarhopper". We were "visiting" in literally hundreds of thousands of southern homes, every afternoon--six days a week! Everybody, it seemed, loved and respected the Briarhoppers. We were neighbors. The Briarhoppers played and sang the songs people grew up with. We talked with our vast audience--not at them, as so much radio and TV seems to do today. Briarhopper listeners loved it and they responded, for example, by sending in 8,000 to 10,000 box tops (from Peruna) for pictures of the Briarhoppers--every single week! I am reliably informed that no network elicts that much response for any "special offers" today.

To think that one of the most influential media people in the 20th century favored being just good ole "Charlie Briarhopper." As a note, Crutchfield was on the advisory board for the Community Action Network, which is on the letterhead. Also on the board, and whose name is listed above Crutch's on the righthand side of the letter, was Walter Cronkite.

Whitey and Hogan's First Contract with Charles Crutchfield

2008-06-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

On 9/8/41, Whitey and Hogan agreed to be Briarhoppers for $25/week each. A great deal!

Photo Signed By Eleanor Bryan Fields

2008-06-12T10:43:00.000-07:00

WBT Briarhopper Eleanor Bryan Fields was on the Briarhopper Show for only one year, but became a fan favorite. She could "out yodel Patsy Montana" (that's what Claude Casey said in an interview) and played a Gibson Jumbo guitar. Whilst writing the BHopper book, Tom and Lucy Briarhopper Warlick communicated a lot with her and her son, Doc Childre (a famous author in California). Doc had his mother autograph this picture for us. This is the picture that is on the book's cover. Fields married Grand Ole Opry star Lew "Doc" Childre (The Boy from Alabam'), who was a duet partner with Dave "Stringbean" Akeman. Fields and Childre divorced; Fields moved back to NC in the 1940s and continued to entertain on local radio stations and live music shows. We are glad to know that Eleanor enjoyed the book!

Signed Picture from "Swing Your Partner"

2008-06-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

In 1943, Claude Casey, Don White, and Claude Casey were in the movie, "Swing Your Partner." This is an original signed photo from the movie that Tom Briarhopper bought on eBay.

A Great Picture of the BHoppers circa 2002

2008-06-12T10:24:00.001-07:00

From left to right: Arval Hogan; Dwight Moody; Whitey Grant; David Deese; and Don White. Location unknown.

Big Bill Davis and his Clover Blossoms

2008-06-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

When Big Bill Davis came to WBT in the mid-1920s, he came with his band, "Bill Davis and his Cottom Blossoms." This flyer is original; the photo is a little grainy, but Bill is the one either playing the fiddle or the double bass...probably his boys Charlie and Roger were in there as well. Big Bill was a classically-trained violinist who played with the Charlotte Symphony. Bill and Hank Warren were some of the few Briarhopper members who could read music. In October 2006, Davis' family gathered in Winston-Salem, NC, to remember Davis and the musical contributions of the Davis family. We will get a link whenever I get the chance to call the newspaper. UPDATE: we got out the magnifying glass and Big Bill is playing the fiddle. The mic says "WBT."

Don White, The Tennessee Ramblers, and the Smoky Mountain Boys at WLS

2008-06-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

Here is Don White (on bass) with the Tennessee Ramblers (the three to Don's left), with Roy Acuff (on fiddle on the first row) and the Smoky Mountain Boys at WLS in Chicago during the early 1940s. On dobro is Bashful Brother Oswald and on banjo is Rachel Veech. Don would temporarily leave WBT and go to WLS and participate on the WLS National Barn Dance either solo, with the Ramblers, or with his other band, The Sage Dusters.

Rare Color Photo

2008-05-31T06:23:00.000-07:00

Here are the Briarhoppers of 1941-1945 on the Fred Kirby Show in the late 1970s. Left to right are Uncle Jim Mahaffey Patterson, Hank Warren, Claude Casey, Shannon Grayson, Arval Hogan, Don White, Whitey Grant, Big Bill Davis, and Fred Kirby. This specific group of BHoppers were extremely popular on the radio and on stage. There must be a copy of this program somewhere in the WBTV archives!?!?! Help! thanks

Nominate the Book for an Award!

2008-05-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

The IBMA (International Bluegrass Music Association) will have their big awards show in Nashville during the week of October 2, 2008. If you have the time, please email nancyc@ibma.org to nominate "The WBT Briarhoppers-Eight Decades of a Bluegrass Band Made For Radio" for the Print Media Award. Yeah, IBMA will say you have to be a member, but if enough people email, maybe the book will get nominated! This is one small way to keep the Briarhopper name out there. Thanks

From Jim "Fiddlin' Scanc" Scancarelli's collection!

2008-05-09T05:02:00.000-07:00

One of Charlotte's First Teen Idols

2008-05-08T06:11:00.000-07:00

In 1936, an open audition at WBT yielded one of the first teen idols in the Metrolina area. Little Homer Drye became Homer A. Briarhopper on stage and was one of the most popular Briarhopper members ever. In 1940/1941, Homer left WBT to go to WPTF in Raleigh where he founded Homer A. Briarhoppers' Dixie Dudes. Homer remained in the Raleigh area and grew to be a famous entertainer in the Triad, befriending Elvis Presley, Eddy Arnold, among others. In 1954, Homer was named "Mr. Disc Jockey USA." He also opened several popular music clubs near Raleigh. Fiddlin' Dwight Moody worked with Homer many times on Homer's radio and TV shows. Homer refused three offers to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Homer died in 1983. Continuing the spirit, Homer's nephew, Larry Mangum, is a popular songwriter and musician based in the Jacksonville, FL, region. Homer's son, Tim, is retired from the Raleigh area police force.

Hello Henry!

2008-05-05T11:58:00.001-07:00

The late Henry Boggan was not only a Hall of Fame broadcaster, but was a wild BHopper fan! In fact, one of his last radio shows on WBT featured the BHoppers. A story is told that at Charles Crutchfield's funeral, one of the BHopper wives came up to where Henry was sitting and asked him, "You know the Briarhoppers are performing today?" Being Henry, he responded, "Yes, I know, but I decided to come anyway!" This photo is from the University of North Carolina and may be his official photo for his induction into the Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Go to http://www.btmemories.com/ and you can hear the Hello Henry Show with the BHoppers. Enjoy!

Reflecting on Thorpe Westerfield

2008-05-05T11:44:00.001-07:00

According to Billie Burton Daniel and Billy Ann Newman Carson, Thorpe was a brilliant musician and a really nice guy. A relative of actress Arlene Dahl, Thorpe was a consummate musician who could play almost any instrument. Carson said his guitar playing reminded her of famous jazz guitarist Django Rinehardt. Daniels remembered Thorpe playing his guitar or banjo along with his harmonica. According to Thorpe's daughter, Terry Marshall, Thorpe met his wife whilst performing at WBT as a member of the Briarhoppers. He was called to duty in WWII and eventually joined the military band, putting on musicals and other events for the troops. His return to Charlotte did not include re-joining WBT or the Briarhoppers; Thorpe started work with his family's building supply company in Charlotte. Thorpe remained a member of the Musician's Union, and played at holiday events. He remained at his family's building supply store until he died in 1972.

The Briarhoppers Were So Big, They Had To Have A Second Group!

2008-04-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

Yes, BHopper Unit Two was formed when the band could not meet all of the requests for personal appearances. In this photo, left to right, are Homer Christopher, Shannon Grayson, Claude Casey, and Sam Poplin. Anybody know if the trailer is still around?!?!?!

Who have been Briarhoppers?

2007-10-28T10:17:00.003-07:00

Charles Crutchfield; Johnny McAllister; Bill Davis; Don White; Jane Bartlett; Thorpe Westerfield; Clarence Etters; Homer Drye; Billie Burton Daniel; Charlie and Roger Davis; Hank Warren; Gibb Young; Martin Schopp; Harry Blair; Jack Gillette; Cecil Campbell; Newell Hathcock; Fred Kirby; Claude Casey; The Oklahoma Sweethearts (Jean and Jane Leeper); Mildred and Floyd; Eleanor Bryan Fields; Dewey Price; Whitey and Hogan; Shannon Grayson; Homer Christopher; Nat Richardson; Sam Poplin; Doug Mayes; Jim Scancarelli; Homer Sherrill; David Moody; David Deese; Dwight Moody; Tom Warlick...so far!

If you have other information to share, please do!

2007-09-24T13:12:00.000-07:00

"Don't touch that dial, 'Hit's Briarhopper Time!"

Thanks for coming to our site! The quote above comes from our great friend, Tom Hanchett of the Levine Museum of the New South.

If you want to see the legendary band in concert, complete with the radio advertisements for Peruna, Kolor-Bak, Zymole Trokeys, and Radio Girl Perfume, check this site for upcoming stage shows.