The WBT Briarhoppers: Eight Decades of a Bluegrass Band Made for Radio

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In 1934, WBT radio announcer Charles Crutchfield formed a spur-of-the-moment musical group to satisfy a potential sponsor looking for a
hillbilly
radio program to showcase its products. Known as the WBT Briarhoppers, this group went on to become the longest lasting bluegrass/country ensemble in America. Compiled from firsthand interviews, this work tells the story of the WBT Briarhoppers, analyzing the band’s history and its connection to the growth of American radio and radio advertising. Using the Briarhoppers as a common thread, it examines changes in culture and the group’s contribution to country and bluegrass music. The work also discusses legendary performers including the Tennessee Ramblers, The Johnson Family, and Bill and Charlie Monroe.