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Artist
Robert Nighthawk
12+ albums
bluesChicago BluesClassic BluesChess Recordsslide guitar
about
Robert Lee McCollum (30 November 1909–5 November 1967) was an American bluesman who played and recorded under the names Robert Lee McCoy and Robert Nighthawk. Born in Helena, Arkansas, he left home at an early age to become a busking musician, and after a period wandering through southern Mississippi settled for a time in Memphis, Tennessee. There he played with local orchestras and musicians, such as the Memphis Jug Band. A particular influence was Houston Stackhouse, from whom he learnt to play slide guitar, and with whom he appeared on the radio in Jackson, Mississippi. After further travels through Mississippi, he found it advisable to take his mother's name, and as Robert Lee McCoy he moved to St. Louis, Missouri. Local musicians with whom he played included Henry Townsend, Big Joe Williams, and Sonny Boy Williamson. This led to two recording dates in 1937, the four musicians recording together at the Victor Records studio in Aurora, Illinois, as well as recordings under his own name, including "Prowling Night-Hawk" (recorded 5 May 1937), from which he was take his later pseudonym. These sessions led to Chicago careers for the other musicians, but not for McCoy, who simply continued his rambling life, playing and recording (for Victor/Bluebird and Decca) solo and with various musicians, under various names. He also became a familiar voice on local radio stations. Then Robert Lee McCoy disappeared. Within a few years he reappeared as the electric slide-guitarist Rober
top songs
albums
Prowling With the Nighthawk
Presenting Robert Nighthawk
Live on Maxwell Street
Bricks In My Pillow
George Mitchell Collection Vol 1, Disc 13
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The Black Album - Blues
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The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1947-1950) (Disc 1)
Live on Maxwell Street 1964
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Live On Maxwell St. 1964
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Bottleneck Blues Guitar Legends
Sweet Black Angel
Masters Of Modern Blues