LEE
MOORE Lee
Moore (born: Circleville, OH, September 24, 1914) is
best remembered as The Coffee Drinking Nite-Hawk from
his stint at WWVA, where he spent twenty five years.
He was also a recording artist and performer. Lee started
singing on radio in 1931 while still in high school.
He went on the road with Doc Schneider and His Texas
Yodeling Cowboys playing dobro and guitar before joining
WPAY, Portsmouth, OH. Moore then moved to WCMI Ashland
KY, WCHS, Charleston, WV and WHIS, Bluefield, WV, where
he performed at the coal camps at night. He then moved
to WSVA, Harrisonburg, VA, KNKF, Shenandoah, IA . After
a few other stops he joined WWVA (1949-1974). Where
he hosted the overnight show as a disc jockey and often
performed on the WWVA Jamboree. At the time, WWVA’s
nighttime signal was the only source of Country music
for many fans in the northeast, and many New Yorkers
listened to Lee. He received mail from listeners from
Newfoundland to Bermuda. He was known for his coffee
drinking routine, in which he would elaborately describe
the preparation of his favorite beverage, as well as
for commercials selling red top baby chicks, the Lord’s
Last Supper tablecloths and used work clothes. After
leaving WWVA, Moore continued to play bluegrass festivals
throughout the northeast until his death on August
17, 1997. Lee Moore was inducted into the Country Music
D J Hall of Fame in 2000.
