robert nighthawk

Biography

Robert Nighthawk, born Robert Lee McCollum on November 30, 1909, in Helena, Arkansas, was a pioneering blues guitarist and singer whose influence extended across the Delta and beyond. Raised in a musical family, he first learned harmonica before mastering the guitar, picking up his distinctive slide technique from Houston Stackhouse in Mississippi. His early years were marked by constant travel throughout the South, playing at dances, parties, and juke joints, and he was known for his restless nature and frequent changes of address, name, and even marital status.

Nighthawk began recording under the name Robert Lee McCoy in the late 1930s, collaborating with notable musicians such as Big Joe Williams, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Henry Townsend. His 1937 recording "Prowling Night-Hawk" would later inspire his best-known stage name. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Nighthawk became renowned for his cool, composed vocal style and his innovative, fluid slide guitar sound, which he achieved using a brass slide. He recorded for labels like Victor, Bluebird, Decca, and later Chess, producing influential tracks such as "Annie Lee Blues," "Black Angel Blues," and "Crying Won't Help You." Despite his talent, Nighthawk's commercial success was limited, partly due to his itinerant lifestyle and sporadic recording sessions.

Nighthawk's legacy is profound: he was a major influence on the Chicago blues scene and inspired a generation of guitarists, including Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Earl Hooker, and Elmore James. His music bridged the rural Delta style and the electrified urban blues that would shape modern blues and rock. Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 1983, Nighthawk remains celebrated for his artistry and contributions to blues history.

Fun Facts

• Nighthawk recorded under several names, including Robert Lee McCoy and Rambling Bob, before settling on Robert Nighthawk.
• He was known for his itinerant lifestyle, rarely staying long in one place and often disappearing from the music scene for years at a time.
• Nighthawk's 1964 live album, 'Live on Maxwell Street,' was named one of the ten best rock ‘n’ roll albums of the year by critic Greil Marcus.
• He was rediscovered busking on the streets of Chicago in 1963, which led to a late-career resurgence.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Houston Stackhouse - Taught Nighthawk slide guitar and performed with him on radio in Jackson, Mississippi. (Live performances, radio appearances) [Early 1930s]

Key Collaborators

• Sonny Boy Williamson (John Lee Williamson) - Recorded together in the late 1930s and performed in St. Louis and Chicago. (Victor Records sessions (1937)) [1930s]
• Big Joe Williams - Recorded and performed together in St. Louis. (Victor Records sessions (1937)) [1930s]
• Henry Townsend - Collaborated on recordings and performances in St. Louis. (Victor Records sessions (1937)) [1930s]

Artists Influenced

• Muddy Waters - Adopted and adapted Nighthawk's slide guitar style for Chicago blues. (Signature slide guitar sound on Chess recordings) [1940s–1950s]
• B.B. King - Cited Nighthawk as one of his ten favorite guitarists. (Influence on King's phrasing and vibrato) [1950s–1960s]
• Earl Hooker - Developed his own slide guitar style inspired by Nighthawk. (Slide guitar recordings) [1950s–1960s]
• Elmore James - Supposedly influenced by Nighthawk's slide technique. (Slide guitar classics like "Dust My Broom") [1950s]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Black Angel Blues
2. Black Angel Blues (Take It Easy Baby)
3. The Moon Is Rising (Take It Easy Baby)
4. My Sweet Lovin' Woman
5. Black Angel Blues (Prowling With The Nighthawk)
6. The Moon Is Rising
7. Kansas City Blues
8. Goin' Down To Eli's - Live At The Corner Of 14th And Peoria, Chicago, IL / September 1964 (Live On Maxwell Street: 1964)
9. Crying Won't Help You (Bricks in My Pillow)
10. I'm Getting Tired (Masters Of Modern Blues)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia