I’m really digging Stephanie Snyder’s new blog here at the Times Union’s blog portal.ย When she asked people to send her questions, and she would answer them in a video blog, I asked the West Virginia expatriate if she ever had a chance to enjoy one of the state’s most famous radio programs, the WWVA Saturday Night Jamboree.ย She said that she hadn’t, and commented that she hoped that didn’t mean I wouldn’t read her blog any more.
Actually, I kinda like her blog, and I just added it to my TU Blog Community blogroll – look over there at the right edge of this page.ย See?ย Stephanie Snyder, A Professor’s Wife.ย No harm, no foul.
But if you’ve never experienced classic country music – and by “classic,” I mean long before Garth Brooks ever picked up a guitar – you have to experience the wonder that was the music of the Saturday Night Jamboree.ย Live every weekend from Wheeling, W.Va., the Saturday Night Jamboree (later known as JamboreeUSA) could be heard on WWVA’s 50,000-watt flamethrower radio station through nearly every state on the Eastern Seaboard, and into Atlantic Canada.ย In Albany, it competed with our local country music station at the time, 1460 WOKO.ย Yes, there actually WAS a country music station before WGNA.
To find out more about the history of the Jamboree, watch these two short video clips.
On this version of K-Chuck Radio, I think it’s time you all experienced the wonders of country music from the hills of West Virginia.ย It’s good stuff.ย Trust me.
DOC WILLIAMS’ BORDER RIDERS
Wheeling Back to Wheeling
Doc Williams and the Border Riders were the most popular and longest-lasting members of the Jamboree broadcasts. He even had his own store at the Capitol Music Hall, the home of many of the Jamboree’s broadcasts, and it is alleged that Brad Paisley bought his first pair of cowboy boots from Doc Williams’ store.
HAWKSHAW HAWKINS
Shotgun Boogie
Before he became a country music superstar, Hawkshaw Hawkins – “eleven and a half yards of personality,” as he was known – performed as a member of the Jamboree crew for eight years.
DUSTY OWENS
Give Me a Little Chance
One time, WWVA held a contest to find out how far their broadcast signal could go. They used Dusty Owens’ song “Hello Operator” and asked all the telephone operators to send in a postcard. The farthest one came from St. John’s, Newfoundland! I couldn’t find a YouTube clip of that song, but here’s another great Dusty Owens song.
THE DAVIS SISTERS
I Forgot More Than You’ll Ever Know
“I was there the night the Davis Sisters came to do a guest appearance on the Jamboree,” said Dusty Owens, recalling the duo’s performance in August 1953. “RCA had just released their song, ‘I Forgot More than You’ll Ever Know.’ They had that song climbing the charts when they came over to promote it and do a guest shot on the Jamboree. They had a unique blend of voices at that time, and they were very good, very vivacious, and they entertained. I thought they had a great future ahead of them. After the midnight show, they left from the station and took off for home, and that was the night that Betty Jack Davis got killed in an automobile accident. We were all very saddened when that accident took place.” Skeeter, the other Davis Sister in the car that night, would eventually recover from her injuries. A decade later, in 1962-1963 she charted her crossover smash “The End of the World,” and solidified her Grand Ole Opry stardom.
WILMA LEE AND STONEY COOPER
Come Walk With Me
Gotta love those beautiful close harmonies from one of the most beloved performing groups of the Jamboree era. I really enjoy their blend of mountain and gospel music.
BUDDY DURHAM
You’re Just A Baby
Ida Red Rock
HARDROCK GUNTER
Birmingham Bounce
Rock-A-Bop-Baby
In addition to working with national and regional record companies, some of the WWVA artists recorded for a special WWVA label. This extended-play record features four twangy rocking songs from two Jamboree performers from the late 1950’s – Buddy Durham and Hardrock Gunter.
And here, just for your enjoyment, is an actual radio broadcast of the Jamboree from the 1970’s. Ring those cowbells in the audience so that everyone throughout the Eastern Seaboard can hear you!!!
And yes, it’s still broadcasting – here’s a show from July 23, 2011 – the legacy continues!
http://www.ustream.tv/flash/viewer.swf
And the Wheeling Jamboree is still on the radio – albeit not on WWVA any more, as that has become an all-talk radio station. Today, if you live in Wheeling, you can pick up the Jamboree on AM 1600, WKKX. Or you can visit wheelingjamboree.org and watch the shows live every Saturday night.
By the way, did you know that the Jamboree is the second-oldest continuously operating live radio show in history?ย Yes it is.ย Only the Grand Ole Opry has been on the air longer than the Jamboree.
Hope you had fun traveling to Wheeling – on this classic country episode of K-Chuck Radio!
Chuck The Writer 
Yes, yes, yes. WWVA from downtown Wheeling West Va-gin-i-a! Coupled with WKBW, Buffalo they were my evening entertainment in the ’50s on my cream colored plastic radio. Even had a set of headphones so I wouldn’t disturb the family…or was it so the folks wouldn’t know I was up all night.
WOKO was for daytime listening mainly because those 50,000 watts stations had to restrict their anntena direction and output during certain hours to protect the stations with less power. Something about FCC seniority rights for call signs.
You’re right, Chuck, those were the days when country was country & western! Thanks for the trip.
Never heard Louisania Hayride, but understand that was the southland’s equivenant of WWVA (and Grand Ole Opery)
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Chuck, you forgot Chickie Williams and “Beyond the Sunset,” my mother’s favorite song. I remember Saturday nights at my aunt and uncle’s farm in northern New Hampshire. After milking, both families would sit down to homemade baked beans, home-baked bread, then then adults would play cards and listen to the Jamboree. Of course, they were in the dining room and the radio was in the living room so in winter and on rainy nights, us kids had to be quiet so they could hear the jamboree. Yup, took a long time for me to begin to appreciate that music.
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I’ve got you covered. I blogged about “Beyond the Sunset” a few months ago.
http://blog.timesunion.com/chuckmiller/beyond-the-sunset-and-the-newcomer-twins-part-1/3479/
http://blog.timesunion.com/chuckmiller/beyond-the-sunset-and-the-newcomer-twins-part-2/3481/
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This blog post DESERVES some more attention – and you deserve some free tickets to a Jamboree show!
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Stephanie – the last time I went to the Jamboree was for the 70th anniversary show; it was the last time Doc Williams performed live on the Jamboree stage. I got pictures of the event. Great stuff.
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