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Hank Noble
Born:  November 23, 1928
Calgary Stampede
CFCN Calgary, AB
CHUM Toronto, ON
CKRC Winnipeg, MB
CKY Winnipeg, MB
WCOS Columbia, SC

About The Artist

Hank Noble was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. At the age of six, he became an orphan. The details of that aspect of his life, we have not been able to document. He was adopted by the Reverend William H. Noble. He was said to have begun thinking about a career in music after a fall off a horse. Another article mentions he had a brother who was a vocalist in top pop bands.

Hank desired a career in music. He worked at a variety of jobs - in factories, in the wheat fields, oil fields - as long as the job allowed him to pursue his musical interests.

In 1950, he migrated to Canada and was signed by the Quality record label.

His first success in Canada was when he was featured on the Calgary Stampede show for two years over radio station CFCN. That led to a part in a movie starring Dale Robertson called Calgary Stampede Parade. For a couple of years, he had a radio show that aired over CKY in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

He moved back to the Carolinas in 1953 to tend to his ailing adopted father.

In 1954, Hank made an appearance on the WSM Grand Ole Opry and was given the honor of Mr. DeeJay USA during his visit to Nashville.

In 1955, he wrote one of his Mercury Recordsings for Cedarwood Publishing Company, "Tell Me The Reason Why."

In 1957, back in Canada, he was being heard over CKRC in Winnipeg at 3:05pm with his band, the Red River Valley Boys.

In 1958, he was the all-night disc jockey over radio station CHUM in Toronto. Hank and his band The Night Hawks appeared live over CHUM at 10:30pm on Friday nights and did personal appearances throught Ontario and at the Palace Pier in Toronto. During this time he recorded under the name Billy Guitar.

Credits & Sources

  • Country & Western Jamboree; June 1955; Country & Western Jamboree, Inc.; Chicago, IL
  • Country Song Roundup; No. 40; September 1955; American Folk Publications, Inc.; Derby, CT
  • Country & Western Jamboree; January 1957; Maher Publications, Inc.; Chicago, IL
  • Country & Western Jamboree; March 1957; Maher Publications, Inc.; Chicago, IL
  • Rustic Rhythm; Vol. 1 No. 5; August 1957; Rustic Rhythm, Inc.; New York, NY
  • Country & Western Jamboree; Spring 1958 Yearbook; Maher Publications, Inc.; Chicago, IL
  • Cowboy Songs; December 1954; Issue No. 38; American Folk Publications; Derby, CT
  • Cowboy Songs; April 1957; Issue No. 51; American Folk Publications; Derby, CT

Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)

 
Apex
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  9-76185 A Here Comes The Night (as Billy Guitar)
  9-76185 B You Should Have Loved Her More (as Billy Guitar)
 
Decca
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  9-30634 A Here Comes The Night (as Billy Guitar)
  9-30634 B You Should Have Loved Her More (as Billy Guitar)
 
Mercury
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  70485 A If You Want It That Way
  70485 B This Case Against My Heart
  70515 A Wa-Ha-Ne-Na
  70515 B Keep On Trying
  70561 A Tell Me The Reason Why
  70561 B To See You Walking By
 
Quality
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  K1125 A Little Log Cabin
  K1125 B Midnight Train