Subject: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Sourdough Date: 28 Sep 00 - 03:01 PM It was a delightful surprise to see that I share the memories of Lee Moore with other Mudcatters. I used to be sitting up late in my bedroom in New Hampshire listening to Lee Moore, "the coffee drinking nighthawk". I loved it when he took down his guitar and played , "The Cat Came Back". Another thing that stands out in memory is the recitation of "The Truckdriver's Prayer". The ads were wonderful, too. I, too, remember the Last Supper Tablecloth. Were there napkins for each apostle, a setting for fourteen? Was there a Jesus napkin? Was there a Judas napkin? Sourdough |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Steve Latimer Date: 28 Sep 00 - 03:50 PM I have never heard him, but my Uncles who live in New York have mentioned him (and the ads)fondly many times. I have been to the Capital Music Hall in Wheeling a few times to see Willie Nelson. The WWVA studio is still just inside the lobby and I believe they broadcast all the live shows from there. A magical place. The Bridge Tavern right across the road has some special memories too. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Ebbie Date: 28 Sep 00 - 04:13 PM Oh, what fun! I remember 'Old Lee Moore' fondly. My youngest brother would come wake me at 1:00 to hear the theme song, Little Home in West Virginia. Do you remember the tune? I still love it. Part of the tune is from a Carter family song but the third part is unique, I believe. Ebbie |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,Allan S. Date: 28 Sep 00 - 07:02 PM Hi there sourdough As soon as I saw the thread I knew it had to be you What about the genuine composite granite tomb stone. and 100 baby chicks for $4:00 unsexed of course at that price. Garantied to be Polurum tested. { Polurum was a disease that would go through a flock with a high motarilty rate.} The trick was that they were tested but one never knew if they were positive or negative. It is like being tested for VD but not telling the results. It was a great joke to send 100 chicks to someone you didnt like also If I remember someone sent a tombstone to our house mother at U-Conn I thing Frank Collin put the Holy table cloth to music and sndg it at one of the Hoots. Something about a neon crucifix also included Yes great times at Boy Scout camp turning off the elec. lights lighting a kerosine.lamp and turning on the radio to WWVA Wasn't Wilma Lee on the program also???? |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: catspaw49 Date: 28 Sep 00 - 07:25 PM Gawd yes.....WWVA........I grew up about 50 miles from Wheeling in east Ohio and there were only two kinds of folks there; people who listened to WWVA and people who didn't listen to the radio. Spaw |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: kendall Date: 28 Sep 00 - 07:45 PM Back in the 50's when I was in the CGC COOS BAY, when we were up in the Davis straits, WWVA was the only station that would come in. We country boys loved it..the city boys hated it. Years later, I got to meet Lee. We were both on the bill at Smokey Greens bluegrass festival at Porter Corners N.Y. He died a couple of years ago, the end of an era. He really was one of a kind. And by the way, he is the only one I ever heard sing the original lyrics to Wildwood Flower. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Ebbie Date: 28 Sep 00 - 08:03 PM HA! That must be where I got my distaste for the A.P. Carter version of Wildwood Flower! I love the original. Carter's version, pardon my opinion, makes no sense, a'tall, a'tall. Ebbie |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Ebbie Date: 28 Sep 00 - 08:06 PM "In his crown I will sway", instead of "And the crowd I will sway", indeed. Not to mention, "eyes like bright blue". And lots of other unforgettable lines. I just hope someone will take up the cudgel for Carter's version. I will bonk him on the head with his own petard. Hahhahhah Ebbie |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Amos Date: 28 Sep 00 - 09:47 PM HOTTT DANG! I used to love ta choon inta him and listened with rapt attention as he would loudly unscrew the lid of a Nescafe jar and make what he so blithely called coffee. He'd play the darndest songs! And recite the truckdrivers prayer and offer autographed placemats with a picture of Jesus and the Twelve Disciples on 'em.... When I would sneak out of the house as a 17-year-old wildnik and go cruising for burgers down the Connecticut Thruway in the early Sixties, we would always hoot and holler over chunes like "Winder Shoppin'". But either through a glitch in my memory or just bad reception, I have always remembered his handle as "The Coffee-Drinking Night Owl" rather than hawk. No never mind. I can still here that overly-earnest twang comin' to all the Friends and Neighbors from DoubleyaDoubleyaVeeeeeAy: C~~~~~~~C7~~~~~~ Just winder SHOPpin' F~~~~~~~C~~~ Just winder SHOPpin' C~~~~~~~~~~D7~~~~~~~~G Fer anyone who's fool eeeNUF to fall. C~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~C7 Yew don' know REEL luhve; F~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yew never FEEL luhve; G~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~G7 Yer jus' winder SHOPpin' G7~~C Is all! Yeeeehaaaa. Thanks for the memories! A
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Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Dale Rose Date: 28 Sep 00 - 10:46 PM I have a recording of Little Home In West Virginia . . . somewhere. Friends of mine used to do it every now and then. Haven't heard them do it in several years though. Great tune.
I also have a recording of Wildwood Flower, pre-Carter. Guess maybe I ought to look them up and post them. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: jofield Date: 28 Sep 00 - 11:26 PM Lee Moore gave a whole generation of Northeastern urbanites like me their first exposure to real country music -- thanks to the mighty northward beam of WWVA. He deserves a place alongside the recently much celebrated Harry Smith for bringing a breath of the "old, free America" into our darkened bedrooms. It was listening to WWVA while I was in high-school that prepared me for total immersion in bluegrass and roots music when the folk boom came along. James, in Bristol, R.I. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Sourdough Date: 28 Sep 00 - 11:30 PM Allan S. -- PA -- |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: jofield Date: 28 Sep 00 - 11:43 PM Someone give Sourdough a smart whack on the back. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Ebbie Date: 28 Sep 00 - 11:44 PM Allan S. here- whatta you want? |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Sourdough Date: 28 Sep 00 - 11:47 PM Okay, Allan, I guess I have your attention (I have no idea why the cyber burp just took place).... Could it be that the person who did the Lee Moore satire be Peter Stampfael's partner in the Holy Modal Rounders? I can't remember his name but he was very funny. I saw him do the piece at the Cafe Wha! in Greenwich Village about the first year of Indian Neck or so. It included the tablecloth of the Last Supper as well as the bible that miraculously saved a man's life when it turned the blade away from his heart (it turned out that the bible was bound in 1/4" steel plate.) Joefield: I could have said the same thing but you made me appreciate how much of an effect he had on my life. He also gave me an appreciation for the life of a truck driver - something else that has stuck with me since those days. Sourdough |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,Allan S. Date: 29 Sep 00 - 07:17 PM Sitting here with a bad cold. No it was frank who did the tablecloth and a few others of a religious ?? nature. Will probably see hin in Oct at the reunion and will try to get hin to sing them if he remembers the song. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: kendall Date: 29 Sep 00 - 07:24 PM Does anyone remember Genial Gene Hooper? He was on WWVA for a while. He is a first cousin of mine. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Rick Fielding Date: 29 Sep 00 - 08:15 PM Nice memory "dough". About three months ago, Lonesome Lee's guitar (a D-45) came up for sale at the 12th fret here in Toronto. Lovely guitar, complete with pictures in the case. Over 10 grand too! Believe it went to a Japanese collector. Man I'd like to have bought that. Rick |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,georgeward Date: 30 Sep 00 - 02:21 AM Synchronicity strikes again. Friday night at Caffe Lena, Adirondack storyteller Bill Smith got going on Lee and wound up singing his version of "Wildwood Flower". He went on a bit about how much Lee influenced the musical tastes of rural folk in northern NY. And I was sitting there recalling (and agreeing with) James's post about Lee's influence on budding citybillies. It got me wondering, how far did WWVA's signal reach in those days? Kendall's given us one clue. Bill Smith lives near the Canadian border in northern NY. Sourdough says New Hampshire. Who else pulled in Lee from afar? |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Rick Fielding Date: 30 Sep 00 - 12:15 PM I sure got him in Baie d'Urfe Quebec. (about 100 miles from the Vermont border) He was a welcome change from Bing Crosby, Frank S., The Andrews Sisters and Lawrence Welk. Rick |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Ebbie Date: 30 Sep 00 - 12:42 PM I have two friends here in Alaska who listened to wwva in their youth. One lived in New Jersey, the other in Maine. I lived in Virginia. It's a kick discovering that we know all the same songs! Has the station changed? Has anyone heard it recently? I'm sorry to hear that Lee Moore has died. Do you suppose he had any idea of how many lives he affected? Kendall, what was the man like? I'm supposing he was a professional musician but did he ever cut a record? Ebbie |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: MAG (inactive) Date: 30 Sep 00 - 01:54 PM How far back did the show go? Would a person whose hometown was near Wheeling have heard it in the 30's? |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,Gene Date: 30 Sep 00 - 07:12 PM A few weeks ago a local friend offered to loan me some of his treasured LPS, if i would RECORD them to CD for him--included were 2 by Lee Moore Rural Rhythm RRLM 137 and RRLM 202 You can bet i jumped at the chance RRLM 137 going down the country an old log cabin for sale beach at waikikia will the roses bloom in heaven old joe clark dreaming of a cabin royal telephone remember me keep on the sunny side vacant cabin gathering flowers from the hillside mom is dying tonight down where the river bends i love you best of all old spinning wheel i never can love you again cannon ball No. 3 write mother double eagle paul's ministry
RRLM 202
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Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Amos Date: 30 Sep 00 - 07:40 PM You-all want to burn a spare set of them CDs? Pay ya! Huh? A |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: kendall Date: 30 Sep 00 - 11:02 PM Lee was a nice guy, I didnt know him well, but what I did know, he was ok. He used to get a lot of heat from other musicians because he never learned the songs, always carried a music stand on stage. One time I came off stage and Lee was standing there, and as I approached he said "Mister that deserves a fifth!" Whereupon he handed me an A string... a broken A string! He thought that was hilarious. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,georgeward Date: 01 Oct 00 - 02:48 AM Kendall, that brand of humor was the stock-in-trade of country musicians of Lee's generation hereabouts. It's where Vaughn got the title for her book 'Six-foot, Man-eatin' Chicken' (I'll leave y'all to puzzle it out for now). "Daddy Dick" Richards (whom we just lost, and who I'll write a remembrance of here soon) had way too many of 'em. Or maybe just enough. Re: DX. Vaughn says they could get WWVA at night in Clayton, New Mexico when she was a kid. I wonder if Lee DID know how many people he touched. I never interviewed him, and for years he only lived thirty miles from here. Never put off.... George (who is off to reset his cookie)
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Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: kendall Date: 01 Oct 00 - 08:04 AM I have the same regret for not visiting Slim Clark, although he was over 2 hours away. Now, he's totally out of reach. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Dale Rose Date: 01 Oct 00 - 04:13 PM I have uploaded Real Audio files for My Little Home In West Virginia and Frail Wildwood Flower. You will find them on this page at my site.
The version of the theme that I have is by the composer of the tune, Ellis Hall, with Bill Addis on guitar, but I would be nearly certain that the version Lee Moore played would have been by Cy Williams.
Frail Wildwood Flower is from 1928 by Miller Wikel. Though it was actually recorded a few days after the Carter version, it is far closer to the original. As for my late night listening back in the late 40s to mid 50s when I went off to college and no longer had time for such, I did listen every now and then to WWVA, BUT my main listening stations were WLS and WJJD in Chicago, WCKY in Cincinnati, WLPO (LaSalle, Peru, Oglesby, IL), WBAP in Fort Worth, TX, XERF in Mexico, and of course, WSM in Nashville, TN. I imagine that the Chicago stations ~~ especially WJJD, and WCKY got more listening hours than the rest combined. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Ebbie Date: 01 Oct 00 - 04:29 PM If truth be told, Dale R. I also listened to Del Rio, Texas, 50 (500?)WATTS OF POWER.... Strangely, I don't remember the call letters. Thanks for the tune. I suspect that is the recording Lee played. Although the balance isn't good on my realaudio so that the fiddle on the number sounds thinner than I remember, the backup guitar is spot on. The guitar work on that piece and another on a Johnny and Jack recording (forgotten the name at the momemnt) is what first made me want to play guitar well. Ebbie |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Dale Rose Date: 01 Oct 00 - 05:32 PM You're welcome, Ebbie, thought some of you might like to hear it. The XERF that I mentioned WAS Del Rio ~~ that was their mailing address, though the station was actually in Mexico. Their power was 10 or more times greater than the 50,000 watts allowed in the United States. They always said you could listen to the station without a radio! ~~ pleasant memories.
Found this on the net, dated 1997 ~~ note the address for Thelma Moore at the end.
Farewell: Lee Moore
By Bill Knowlton
Lee Moore, for 25 years the "Coffee Drinking Nighthawk" on WWVA, Wheeling, West Virginia, and its "WWVA Jamboree," died peacefully after a long struggle with cancer, on August 17th. The long-time all-night deejay who was heard on clear channel radio throughout the eastern USA and eastern Canada was literally an educator in old-time country and bluegrass for all of us in the 50s and 60s; a radio icon who introduced us to Flatt & Scruggs, Reno & Smiley, and the Stanley Brothers . . .
After his retirement from WWVA, Lee moved to eastern New York, living with wife Thelma near Albany and continuing a heavy schedule of personal appearances. Apparently his last public performance was May 31st for the Adirondack Bluegrass League in Galway NY. I was honored to be asked to introduce him.
Lee Moore was an idol to me and many others of the Northeast who eventually became deeply involved with bluegrass music, including the late Bill Vernon. On my dresser is a framed photo of Lee at one of my Bluegrass Ramble Festivals. Standing next to him, with an arm around his shoulder, is Bill Vernon. (Thelma Moore is at P.O. Box 134, Wynantskill, NY 12198.) |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: georgeward Date: 02 Oct 00 - 03:42 AM Bill Knowlton and his "Bluegrass Ramble" show are a broadcast legend in their own right, having been on the air in New York state (mostly upstate) since something like 1960. Still at it. -George |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: kendall Date: 02 Oct 00 - 07:28 PM I have a picture of Lee from 1980 if anyone would like to see who we are talking about??? |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Sourdough Date: 02 Oct 00 - 10:21 PM After years of listening to Lee Moore, I realize that I have never seen him. I'd be real curious. Sourdough |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: kendall Date: 03 Oct 00 - 09:16 AM I just sent a photo of Lee to the resources. I'm sure Pene Azul will find a place for it. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Dale Rose Date: 03 Oct 00 - 09:34 AM If he doesn't, I can tack it up on my musician's page (very much a work in progress ~~ still named Test! Test!, in fact. So far, it only contains pics of The Magnolia Sisters, Lulu Belle and Scotty, Ian Tyson, and a couple of Susana Seivane) |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: kendall Date: 03 Oct 00 - 12:21 PM Pene Azul has posted Lees picture on my site in the resources. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Dale Rose Date: 07 Oct 00 - 05:32 PM I have added a picture which includes Cy Williams on my Songs From WWVA page. As I mentioned earlier, I am reasonably certain that it was his version of Little Home In West Virginia that Lee Moore used as a theme song. Ebbie listened to the Real Audio by Ellis Hall that I have posted there, and thinks it may be the one. Either way, it is a good tune, and you need to check it out! |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,ec Date: 31 Mar 04 - 10:49 PM WWVA came in good Valcartier 25 miles north of Quebec city listened many times to Lee Moore 50s & 60s. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,ALLAN S Date: 01 Apr 04 - 02:30 PM What fun to see this thread again. All those memories comming back I still think those were the golden days of country music. Tho the Dixie chicks are not too bad. As Utah Philips would say "good tho" |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,Wanda Ross Date: 01 Apr 04 - 11:15 PM I got to meet Lee Moore about 20 years or so ago, when he played to the Old Mountain Days in Stony Creek NY, Although I lost track of him over the years, I had the privilege to go to his home, I believe once, if not twice. There was no one like him. I listened to him as a child growing up in Thurman, NY...my dad listened to the shows on Wheeling WVa Jamboree on WWVA. They're some of my best memories. Thanks all for refreshing my great memories. Wanda Ross |
Subject: Lyr Add: WILDWOOD FLOWER (Lee Moore) From: Inükshük Date: 02 Apr 04 - 03:14 PM Earlier in this thread there was some discussion about Lee Moore's lyrics to Wildwood Flower. Here's what I transcribed from one of his LPs. WILDWOOD FLOWER as per Lee Moore She is [G] waiting for me in a [D7] rose covered [G] bower And her eyes are like violets [D7] after a [G] shower For she's dreaming of me through the [C] long summer [G] hours My sweetheart, my own, my [D7] frail wildwood flower. All the wild forest creatures are under her spell. On her shoulder the dove his love secrets will tell And the shy dappled fawn comes to lie at the feet Of my frail wildwood flower, so gentle and so sweet. I will pick tender blossoms to twine in her hair; Blushing roses so red and the lilies so fair, Lovely myrtle so bright with emerald hue, Modest buttercups yellow, forget-me-nots blue. Hand in hand through the wildwood together we'll stray, She will sing, she will dance and my heart she will sway, And her laughter will echo like ripples at play Till my trials like my heart has stolen away. There's no artist can paint her, no poet can rhyme (write?) How she warms this old heart like a sunbeam so bright. I will love and protect her and never will part From that frail wildwood flower that twines around my heart. I personally think Lee made up a lot of these verses himself. Inukshuk |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,Tony Hickman Date: 08 Aug 06 - 09:44 PM I met Lee Moore at Ottawa Ohio a few years ago he could hardly get his breath and he wanted me to come down to WWVA and do a show but I never did so there went another chance to make It to the BIG TIME, but I am 60 years old now so I am not worried about It. Tony Hickman |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: Joe Offer Date: 08 Aug 06 - 10:32 PM ...and Dale's site still works, six years later: Click!!Nice work, Dale! Wish I'd hear from you more.-Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST Date: 02 Dec 06 - 10:12 PM HI YOUALL, i'VE BEEN TRYING TO FIND A SONG THAT i REMEMBER FROM THE EARLY "40'S i DON'T KNOW WHO WROTE IT ,SANG IT OR WHERE i HEARD IT BUT i REMember singing it when I was 5 or6 years old. The part I remember is " It almost drives me crazy and I don't know what i'll do if I don't find that pretty little girl that I saw dressed in blue." If anyone out their knows where I can find it I surley would appreciate.you letting me know. My e-mail --- crafty70@comcast.net Thanks much. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,Tom D Date: 29 Dec 08 - 11:43 AM I remember my father singing, "When father hung the paper on the wall." Me and my brothers would always ask him to get his guitar out and sing it, but we never heard it on a record or on the air. We lived in Baltimore, Md. This was about 1960. I was just trying to find the lyrics to that song, because I wanted to sing it to my grand kids. I vaguely remember: When father hung the paper on the wall, He hung the corner paper in the hall. He papered all the stairs and papered all the chairs, And hung a border on grandmothers shaw. When father hung the paper on the wall, It was the funniest sight you ever saw. And like birds of a feather, we all stuck together, When father hung the paper on the wall. I can't find the lyrics anywhere. If anyone has them and would be willing to share..........PLEASE sedn them to: Kansascitytom@yahoo.com Thanks, It was great reading ya'lls memories. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,three little kids Date: 27 Jan 09 - 02:36 PM us kids there where three of us,we got up early every morning during the week and we hear old lee more. and here talk and play country the good stuff. now im 67 an still likes country ill be coming through wheeling this spring, an plan to stop,going on line i have found a piece of my pass . love it. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: topical tom Date: 27 Jan 09 - 03:51 PM Aaaahhhh...Sweet memories. I used to sit up 'til all hours in order to hear Lee Moore play his guitar to "The Cat Came Back" or "Wildwood Flower" (among many others I enjoyed.) I later saw him perform once at a buegrass/old time music festival near Lachute, Quebec. Hearing him pour and savour his many cups of coffee was a delight in itself. Of course, I also listened to the WWVA Jamboree on Saturday nights. At that time of my life, country music was in my blood. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: kendall Date: 27 Jan 09 - 08:46 PM No one has asked, but the Davis straight is between Labrador and Greenland. WWVA came in like it was right next to us. We also got Del Rio Texas way back when. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: GUEST,Ray Date: 23 Apr 09 - 06:07 PM I come from a little town call Timmins Ontario, the home town of Shaina Twain and I am 68 years old in the mid 50's I list to WWVA in wheeling west virgina with Lee More the old Coffee Drinking Nighthawk. I have read most of these Reply to Thread remarks and I have yet to have read anything about Lee More's Wife of whom he mentioned her name almost every saturday night He went on to say "WWVA in Wheeling West Virgina Lee More Your Old Coffee Drinking Nighthawk and Wanita Wife" and then he would start playing Wildwood Flower on his guitar. If there is any buddy out there that remembers of him speaking of his Wife Wanita please respond. |
Subject: RE: Coffee Drinking Nighthawk - WWVA From: topical tom Date: 24 Apr 09 - 11:16 AM I do but cannot recall what he said except to mention her name.Did they ever sing together? I can't remember that either. |
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