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In the 1950s, WSAZ-TV out of Huntington, West Virginia
had a show called the "Saturday Night Jamboree"
and one of the vocal stars was Norma Lee.
A 1957 article mentions the show had been on at least four years, putting
its origins to about 1953 or so. Dean Sturm was the master of ceremonies
for the show. The show was quite popular in its time - it played to a live
studio audience of about 75 people and folks had to write in advance
to get tickets, often several weeks in advance.
Not much else was mentioned about Norma nor have we found much else at this
time. A 1956 article simply describes Odey and Norma Hoople (we suspect this
may be the same singer we speak of here, perhaps having gotten married), and Phyllis Noel as "talented kids
with fine future in the country and western field."
Ivan Tribe mentioned Ms. Lee (Hoople) in his book, "Mountaineer Jamboree: Country Music
in West Virginia". He writes that she and Phyllis Noel were later succeeded
by another talented female vocalist - Connie Smith - who went on to make a name
in Nashville.
Credits & Sources
- Country & Western Jamboree; June 1956;
Maher Publications; Chicago, IL
- Rustic Rhythm; September 1957; Vol. 1, No. 6;
Rustic Rhythm, Inc.; 5 East 40th Street, New York, NY
- Mountaineer Jamboree; Ivan Tribe; The University Press
of Kentucky; 1984; ISBN: 0-8131-0878-0; 243 pages
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