The WBT Briarhoppers at the 2009 WBT Sky Show!

Oh boy, Knights Stadium was sold out at approximately 17,000 people and the WBT Briarhoppers were given the opportunity to sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch. Alana "Sunshine Briarhopper" Flowers sang "America The Beautiful" to the crowd prior to the fireworks. Afterwards, we took the stage outside the stadium and played for about 1.5 hours to as many as 500 people at a time. We thank WBT's Rick Jackson, Jessica Reeves, Producer Mark and his wife, the WBT radio team, and the Charlotte Knights for allowing us to spend our 4th of July with them! Also, we thank Jessica Reeves for the superb photography!

The WBT Briarhoppers waiting on-deck to go to the field

The BHoppers playing to 17,000 people

Sunshine Briarhopper singing "America The Beautiful" before the fireworks

Finally, playing to throngs outside the stadium






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The Legendary Briarhoppers!

In 1934, a potential advertiser called WBT's Charles Crutchfield to ask if the station had a hillbilly band to help advertise its products. Telling a fib, Crutch said "Yes," which led to the birth of the Briarhoppers. The name comes from WBT announcer Bill Bivens who, during a hunting trip with Crutch, was startled by a rabbit jumping out of a thicket, and Bill yelled, "Look at that briarhopper!" At that moment, Crutch found the name for his hillbilly band.

The original band members were Johnny McAllister, Big Bill Davis, Don White, Thorpe Westerfield, Clarence Etters, and Jane Bartlett. The last original 1934 Briarhopper, Don White, died in 2003. Billie Burton Daniel, who joined the group in 1936, is happy and well in Wilmington, NC. Since that time, The Briarhoppers' fans are/were Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs (who filled in on banjo a few times), Curly Seckler, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and many other entertainment stars.

In keeping with the tradition, the band kept going through the years by adding new musicians to those who left the station or who died. Today, Alana Flowers and Tom Warlick head the band with their stage show including the old Briarhopper songs, new songs, and the original scripted commercials of Peruna, Kolor-Bak, Zymole Trokeys, and Radio Girl Perfume! Enjoy this site and learn about the Briarhoppers' storied past and the bright future that is ahead. Don't turn that dial...Hit's Briarhopper Time!