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Biography
No footnotes|date=November 2009Infobox musical artist | name = Robert Lee McCollum| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = solo_singer| birth_name = Robert Lee McCollum| alias = Robert Lee McCoyRobert Nighthawk| birth_date = birth date|1909|11|30|mf=yes| birth_place = Helena, Arkansas , United States| death_date = death date and age|1967|11|5|1909|11|30|mf=yes| death_place = Helena, Arkansas, United States| origin =| instrument = Vocals, slide guitar , harmonica | genre = Blues | occupation = Musician| years_active =| label = Victor Records Bluebird Records|Bluebird Decca Records|Decca Aristocrat Records Chess Records United Records States Records | associated_acts = Memphis Jug Band | website =| current_members =| past_members =| notable_instruments = Robert Lee McCollum (November 30, 1909 & ndash; November 5, 1967) http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/1960.html Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed November 2009 was an American blues musician, who played and recorded under the pseudonyms Robert Lee McCoy and Robert Nighthawk .
Robert Lee McCoy
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 where he played with local orchestras and musicians, such as the Memphis Jug Band . A particular influence during this period 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 moved to St. Louis, Missouri in the mid 1930s. Local musicians with whom he played included Henry Townsend (musician)|Henry Townsend , Big Joe Williams , and Sonny Boy Williamson I|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 blues careers for the other musicians, though not, however, for McCoy, who continued his rambling life, playing and recording (for Victor/ Bluebird Records|Bluebird and Decca Records|Decca ) solo and with various musicians, under various names. He also became a familiar voice on local radio stations; then Robert Lee McCoy disappeared.
Robert Nighthawk
Within a few years, he resurfaced as the electric slide guitar ist Robert Nighthawk, and began recording for Aristocrat Records|Aristocrat and Chess Records , the latter of which was also Muddy Waters ' label; in 1949 and 1950, the two men's styles were close enough that they were in competition for promotional activity; as Waters was the more marketable commodity, being more reliable and a more confident stage communicator, he received the attention. Though Nighthawk continued to perform and to record, taking up with United Records|United and States Records|States 1951 and 1952, he failed to achieve great commercial success.
In 1963, Nighthawk was rediscovered busking in Chicago and this led to further recording sessions and club dates, and to his return to Arkansas, where he appeared on the King Biscuit Time radio programme on KFFA (AM)|KFFA . As late as 1964, Nighthawk could be found playing on Chicago's, Maxwell Street .cite book | first= Tony | last= Russell | year= 1997 | title= The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray | edition= | publisher= Carlton Books Limited | location= Dubai | page= 150 | isbn= 1-85868-255-X He had a stroke followed by a heart attack, and died of heart failure at his home in Helena.
Historic marker
Nighthawk was honored by the Mississippi Blues Commission places a historic marker in Friars Point, Mississippi , marking his position on the Mississippi Blues Trail . Governor Haley Barbour stated the following: quotation|This talented Mississippian made a huge contribution to development of thatunique genre of music, the Mississippi blues. I am pleased Nighthawk’s imprint on the blues scene, which is still heard through the tunes of modern-day blues artists, will be recognized with his inclusion on the Mississippi Blues Trail. cite web|url= http://www.visitmississippi.org/press_news/RobertLeeMcCollum.pdf |title=Robert Lee 'Nighthawk' McCollum To Be Honored With Blues Trail Marker |publisher=Mississippi Development Authority |accessdate=2008-05-29 Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot The marker was placed at Friars Point, as Nighthawk called this town his home at various times during his itinerant career. He recorded a song called "Friars Point Blues" in 1940.
Recordings
Robert Nighthawk: Prowling with the Nighthawk (Document) & mdash; twenty-six sides (1937& ndash;1952) recorded for Bluebird, Decca, Aristocrat, and United.
''Ramblin' Bob (Saga) & mdash; twenty-four sides (1937& ndash;1952) recorded for Victor, Decca, Chess, and United.
Live On Maxwell Street (1964)
References
reflist
Sources and external links
http://www.sundayblues.org/nighthawk/ "Bricks in My Pillow" & mdash; The Robert Nighthawk Story
Jean Buzelin, liner notes to ''Ramblin' Bob (Saga Blues; 2004)
http://192.135.141.11/blues/Robert_Nighthawk.html Robert Nighthawk & mdash; Blues Online
Persondata | NAME = Maccollum, Robert Lee | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Nighthawk, Robert | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American blues musician | DATE OF BIRTH = November 30, 1909 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Helena, Arkansas , United States | DATE OF DEATH = November 5, 1967 | PLACE OF DEATH = Helena, Arkansas, United States DEFAULTSORT:Nighthawk, Robert Category:American blues musicians Category:Blues Hall of Fame inductees Category:American buskers Category:Musicians from Arkansas Category:1909 births Category:1967 deaths Category:Mississippi Blues Trail Category:St. Louis blues musicians Category:Decca Records artists Category:RCA Victor artists Category:Chess Records artists Category:Deaths from heart failure Category:Acoustic blues musicians
de:Robert Nighthawk fr:Robert Nighthawk no:Robert Lee McCollum pt:Robert Nighthawk
