Hillbilly-Music.com - Keeping Country Music History Alive
Hillbilly-Music Folio Display


Hayloft Jamboree
WCOP
Boston, MA

WCOP Hayloft Jamboree

The General Manager of WCOP, Roy V. Whisnand wrote in a WCOP Hayloft Jamboree folio mentions that at one time they had three daily Hayloft Jamboree radio shows, plus a Hayloft Jamboree Network that reached all of New England. The afternoon shows was held in their main studio and was open to audiences. On weekends, they had special shows through out the greater Boston area.

At that time, Ray Smith had just joined their staff, who was nationally known at the time and had recorded on the Columbia, London and Coral labels, with sales approaching the half-million mark. Eddie Zack and his Dude Ranchers were there, too, recording artists on Decca back then. He had a weekly NBC Network show that originated over in Rhode Island.

The Emcee of their show back then was Nelson Bragg, the 'Merry Mayor of Milo, Maine and Mrs. Bragg's skinniest kid' as they called him. He was the emcee for the show from late 1951 or early 1952 through 1956. And folks would hear Nelson proclaim at the start of each show:

"Coast to Coast, from Revere to Nantasket, the Hayloft Jamboree tonight."

The city of Revere, Massachusetts that Mr. Bragg refers to boasts the oldest public beach in the USA. At the time the Hayloft Jamboree was on the air, both Nantasket and Revere had very popular amusement parks with ballrooms. The live Hayloft Jamboree show played in many venues in the greater Boston area, including:

  • Symphony Hall (also home to the Boston Pops & Boston Symphony)
  • The John Hancock Hall
  • Boston Arena
  • Back Bay Theater
  • Chateu Ballrom (Nantasket, MA)
  • Mechanics Hall
  • King Philip Ballroom
  • Nuttings on the Charles (river) (Waltham, MA)
  • The Big E (Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA)

WCOP Hayloft Jamboree— Back Row, Left to right: Dee Rogers (partially hidden), Lucky Shore, Lou Mondon, Eddie Fisher, Dave Miller, Ray Smith, Jim Senter, Carl (Ray Shact) Stewart, Bobby Bobo, Bill Dillon. Front Row, Left to right: Stuttering Steel, Chuck Young, Buzz Busby, Elton Britt (arm outstretched, Jack Clements (in derby), Country Al Green, Ruth Senter, the LeClair Sisters, Joe Val, Danny Gillis, Muriel White, Gerry Lee (Shore).

—Identification of cast members in photo thanks to:
Gordy Brown of the New England Country Music Hall of Fame; Watertown, MA

Make no mistake about it - this music was hot there back then. They wrote that the demand for Hillbilly and Western music was such that it was 25% of all record sales in the East.

If you were spining your radio dial when you were in New England back in the 1950's, then you looked for radio station WCOP out of Boston for hillbilly music. Around this time, Elton Britt became a permanent member of their show. Director of the show, you might recognize the name, Aubrey L. Mayhew.

Besides Elton, the cast / staff included about 30 talented performers it was reported. One was said to be Ray Smith, a former Columbia recording artist and was said to be among New England's favorite hillbilly singers.

Carl Stuart was also a member and they said he got about 40 or 50 letters daily because of his original vocal style.

The show also had the 'Betty Hutton of the Hillbillies', a really showperson by the name of Muriel White.

The Hayloft also included three imports from the famed WWVA Wheeling Jamboree. Buzz Busby, (Cowboy) Jack Clements and Scott(y) Stoneman, called The Bayou Boys. They were said to be real hillbillies with a great repertoire and their fiddler, Scott Stoneman, won first prize in many fiddling contests.

Also a member was Jerry Devine, said to be a handsome looking boy and the owner of a terrific voice. He played the guitar, both lead and just strumming.

Until he joined the US Marines, a young Bobby Bobo appeared on the Hayloft Jamboree long enough to build a huge and loyal following. He was from Ohio and had his own radio show back there they said. He could sing anything - from ballads to hot numbers.

The staff band was made up of Lucky Shore and the WCOP Ranch Gang. Each member was said to be able to play every instrument in the 'average hillbilly band' (now how would *you* define the average hillbilly band?). Jerry Lee and AL Grey were two of the smoothese changers around. Lucky was also one half of the show's comedy team.

During this time, the Hayloft Jamboree Artists Bureau was established to help book the stars throughout the New England area. They entertained at halls, for church groups, fraternal or civic organizations. And they offered to come to a town anytime to help them raise funds for a worthy cause or to just supply a '...wonderful evening's entertainment.'


—From left to right, Buzz Busby, Lou Mondon, Scott Stoneman, Jack Clements
(is this the Jack Clements who produced Charley Pride early in his career?) and Ralph Jones.

Rounding out the cast were Tootsie and Jackie, Dee Rogers, Dave Miller, Jimmy and Ruth, Doug Terry and his Roving Cowboys, Lucky and Elmo the 'Radio Rangers' and Lou Mondon. Most of the artists were said to have recorded on the Sheraton label.

The director of the show, Aubrey L. Mayhew, was associated with country and western music for about 9 years prior to coming to the Hayloft Jamboree. He helped many big names up the ladder of success. He was director of the artist's service bureau at WCOP, produced the Jamboree and acted also as Artist and Repertoire (A&R) manager for the Sheraton record label. Then he also arranged the personal appearances of the top artists around the New England area.

Credits & Sources
  • Country Song Roundup No. 30; March/April 1954, American Folk Publications, Inc., Derby, CT
  • WCOP Hayloft Jamboree; Souvenir Program; WCOP; year unknown
  • Additional information provided by:
    New England Country Music Hall of Fame
    c/o Gordy Brown (CountryGordy@aol.com)15 Quirk St. #7
    Watertown, MA 02472
    Gordy Brown

Tex Logan



Lane Brothers



Rex Zario



Cowboy Jack Clement



Tex Owen and Little Eddie



Pete Lane



Bob Currie and His Kennebec Valley Ramblers



Ray Dixon



Doug Garron and His Rhythm Ramblers



Kenny Roberts



Roy Whisnand



Bobby (Richard) Bobo and his Western Rhytmaires



Tiny Joe Simpson



Elton Britt



Big Yank Unit



Ray Smith



Bob Riley



Rosalie Allen



Lee Thomas



Lilly Brothers



Carl Stuart



Gene LaVerne and His Lone Star Ranch Gang



Rockin-L-Ranch Boys



Joe LaFlip



Ray Schacht




Hillbilly-Music.com

Yes, Hillbilly Music. You may perhaps wonder why. You may even snicker. But trust us, soon your feet will start tappin' and before you know it, you'll be comin' back for more...Hillbilly Music.

Hillbilly-music.com ...
It's about the people, the music, the history.