Robert Lee McCoy aka Robert Nighthawk
Source: End of Being
Born Robert Lee McCollum in Helena, Arkansas, on 30 November 1909, Robert Nighthawk was known as Robert Lee McCoy until he became Nighthawk in the latter forties, assuming the name of his popular song, 'Prowling Night Hawk', of 1937. Herein we switch from McCoy to Nighthawk as of 1948. Other of his better known early compositions were 'Tough Luck' and 'Friars Point Blues'.
McCoy initially played harmonica, though soon picked up slide guitar as well, inspired by Tampa Red. Sunday Blues (SB) has McCoy first recording four unissued tracks at an undisclosed location on October 23, 1936, those with pianist, Jack Newman: 'Big House Blues', 'Down and Mistreated Blues', 'Pepper Mama' and 'That Jive You Got'. He was in St. Louis when he helped fill guitarist / pianist, Henry Townsend's, Model A Ford for a drive to Aurora, Illinois, with pianist, Walter Davis, Big Joe Williams and Sonny Boy Williamson I. That would accomplish McCoy's first sessions to issue for Bluebird Records on May 5, 1937. Following SB, he backed Davis on titles like 'Angel Child', 'Fifth Avenue Blues', et al, those with Townsend. SB next lists titles in support of Williams with Williamson I on the same date like 'I Know You Gonna Miss Me', 'Rootin' Ground Hog', et al. Also on May 5 came titles for Williamson I, with Williams, such as 'Good Morning Little School Girl', 'Bluebird Blues', et al.
McCoy's first name sessions were held on the same date of 5 May, 1937, backed by Williams and Williamson I. American Music lists four of six per 'Prowling Night-Hawk', 'G-Man' (unissued), 'Sweet Pepper Mama' and 'Tough Luck'. Titles for Williamson I followed on November 11, those with Townsend: 'Up the Country', 'Worried Me Blues', et al.
'Tough Luck' Robert Lee McCoy (vocal / guitar)
5 May 1937 in Aurora IL Matrix 07655-1 Bluebird B-7115
Harmonica: Sonny Boy Williamson I Guitar: Big Joe Williams
Composition: McCoy
'Prowling Night-Hawk' Robert Lee McCoy (vocal / guitar)
5 May 1937 in Aurora IL Matrix 07659-1 Bluebird B-6995
Harmonica: Sonny Boy Williamson I Guitar: Big Joe Williams
Composition: McCoy
'Sweet Pepper Mama' Robert Lee McCoy (vocal / guitar)
5 May 1937 in Aurora IL Matrix 07660-1 Bluebird B-7090
Harmonica: Sonny Boy Williamson I Guitar: Big Joe Williams
Composition: McCoy
'My Friend Has Forsaken Me' Robert Lee McCoy (vocal / guitar)
11 Nov 1937 in Aurora IL Matrix 016527-1 Bluebird B-7416
Harmonica: Sonny Boy Williamson I Guitar: Big Joe Williams
Composition: ?
'Brickyard' Robert Lee McCoy (vocal / guitar)
11 Nov 1937 in Aurora IL Matrix 016529-1 Bluebird B-7416
Harmonica: Sonny Boy Williamson I Guitar: Big Joe Williams
Piano: Walter Davis or Henry Townsend
Composition: McCoy
Titles followed in 1938 placing McCoy with Speckled Red, Willie Hatcher and Williamson I again, those under the pseudonym, Ramblin' Bob:
'Every Day and Night' Robert Lee McCoy as Ramblin' Bob (vocal / guitar)
18 Dec 1938 in Aurora IL Matrix 030858-1 Bluebird B-8020
Piano: Speckled Red
Composition: McCoy
'Big Apple Blues' Robert Lee McCoy as Ramblin' Bob (vocal / guitar)
18 Dec 1938 in Aurora IL Matrix 030863-1 Bluebird B-7987
Harmonica: Sonny Boy Williamson I Piano: Speckled Red
Composition: McCoy
McCoy recorded as Peetie's Boy in the early forties, also performing on radio before changing his name to Robert Nighthawk in the latter forties to record with his Nighthawks. Sunday Blues has him making records in the fifties and sixties as well, most notably 'Live on Maxwell Street' in 1964 [Rounder 2022 issued 1979]. 'And This Is Maxwell Street' issued on Rooster Blues Records R2641 in 2000 includes a 44 minute interview of Nighthawk by blues guitarist, Mike Bloomfield. Titles gone down in 1965 saw issue on '30 Years of Stony Plain' SPCD 1317 in 2005 and SPCD 1354 in 2011. He documented his last tracks with the Blue Rhythm Boys in August of 1967, most of which saw release in 1994 on 'Mississippi Delta Blues' per Arhoolie Records CD 401.
'Friar's Point Blues' Solo by Robert Lee McCoy as Peetie's Boy (vocal / guitar)
5 June 1940 in Chicago Matrix 93037-A Decca 7819 B
Composition: McCoy
End McCoy Begin Nighthawk
'Down the Line' Robert Nighthawk backing Ethel Mae Brown (girlfriend)
C Sep 1948 in Chicago Matrix U7127 Chess LP 6641 125 (1973)
Piano: Ernest Lane Bass: Willie Dixon
Composition: ?
'Handsome Lover' Robert Nighthawk backing Ethel Mae Brown (girlfriend)
C Sep 1948 in Chicago Matrix U7128 Chess LP 6641 125 (1973)
Piano: Ernest Lane Bass: Willie Dixon
Composition: ?
'My Sweet Lovin' Woman' Robert Nighthawk (vocal / guitar)
C Sep 1948 in Chicago Matrix U7128 Chess 1484
Piano: Ernest Lane Bass: Willie Dixon
Composition: Nighthawk
'The Moon Is Rising' Robert Nighthawk & His Nighthawks Band
25 Oct 1952 in Chicago Matrix 1152-3 States 131
Piano: Curtis Jones Bass: Ransom Knowling
Composition: Nighthawk
'Mr. Bell's Shuffle' Robert Nighthawk
18/25 Sep or Oct 1964 in Chicago
See 'Live On Maxwell Street 1964' per Rounder Records 2022 / 1979
Harmonica: Carey Bell Drums: Jimmy Collins
Composition: Carey Bell ?
'I Need Love So Bad' Robert Nighthawk
18/25 Sep or Oct 1964 in Chicago
See 'Live On Maxwell Street 1964' per Rounder Records 2022 / 1979
Harmonica: Carey Bell Guitar: John Lee Granderson Drums: Jimmy Collins
Composition: Percy Mayfield
'Honey Hush' aka 'Yakity Yak' Robert Nighthawk
18/25 Sep or Oct 1964 in Chicago
See 'Live On Maxwell Street 1964' per Rounder Records 2022 / 1979
Harmonica: Carey Bell Guitar: John Lee Granderson Drums: Jimmy Collins
Composition: Big Joe Turner 1953
'Kansas City Blues' Robert Nighthawk
Sometime 1965 in Toronto ON
See '30 Years of Stony Plain' per SPCD 1317 / 2006
Guitar: Bob Woodfork Drums: Jimmy Collins
Composition: ?
'You Call Yourself a Cadillac' Robert Nighthawk w the Blue Rhythm Boys
28 Aug 1967 in Dundee MS
Guitar: Houston Stackhouse Drums: James “Peck” Curtis
Vocal: Carey “Ditty” Mason
Composition: ?
Nighthawk busked the streets of Chicago throughout his career, never attaining to commercial success. He died on November 5, 1967, in Helena, Arkansas, only several days after his final recordings.
Sources & References for Robert Lee McCoy aka Robert Nighthawk:
Joel Snow
VF History (notes)
Associates Musical:
Sam Carr (Samuel Lee McCollum / son / drums / 1926-2009):
Scott Barretta Curt Brown The Country Blues Discogs Wikipedia
Walter Davis (piano / 1911 or 1912-1963):
American Music DAHR Discogs Wikipedia
Willie Hatcher (mandolin / 1909-1993):
Discogs Mandolin Cafe Weenie Campbell
Speckled Red (piano / 1892–1973):
American Music DAHR Discogs Wikipedia
Audio of McCoy / Nighthawk: Internet Archive Internet Archive YouTube
Recordings: Catalogs: 45 Worlds All Music Discogs RYM SHS
Recordings: Compilations:
Ramblin' Bob (compositions 1937-52 / Saga 982 076-9)
Recordings: Sessions:
DAHR (1937-41/48)
Gilbert Guyonnet / Les Fancourt / Bob McGrath (1937-67)
Sunday Blues:
Pre-War Recordings (1936-41)
Bluebird Recordings / Decca Recordings (1937-40)
Chess Recordings (1948-64)
Post-War Recordings (1951/64)
United Recordings / States Recordings (1951/52)
Live on Maxwell Street (1964)
Testament Recordings (1964)
Other (1964/65)
Stefan Wirz (American Music / 1937-38)
Further Reading: St. Louis Blues Weenie Campbell Forum
Authority Search: VIAF
Other Profiles: Bobb Edwards (Find a Grave)
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