Ralph Hoebee

I was at a birthday party over the weekend and someone mentioned WJWL - a legacy AM radio station that used to be in Georgetown, DE.

It was where I started my radio career, and also the first radio station building I had ever been in.

I remember that day if not the year. I think it was 1974.

I was in a singing group with my friends, Rick and John Betts. I sang lead (poorly) and they provided the harmony. Both were, and are, good singers. I was mediocre but I also played the 12-string guitar, which was our only musical accompaniment.

Somehow we got invited to sing on the Ralph Hoebee Show, a live Saturday morning staple on WJWL.

I remember the smell of the radio station. I remember all the glass and the clacking of the newswire and the racks and racks of albums, and the electronics…the glorious turntables and rotary knob console and large metal microphones with the station call letters.

I met the announcer and remember how weird it was to hear that familiar voice coming from a face that looked nothing like I expected.

To give you an idea of how much of a big deal all of this was, when the person at the birthday party said they remembered WJWL, another person said, “I remember Ralph Hoebee!”, and a third person started singing his theme song.

🎶 “Just a cottage small, where the pines grow tall…that’s where I long to be…” 🎶

This radio show was on a small AM station 50 years ago. And people remember not only the show, but the words to its theme song.

Rick, John and I would get invited back to sing on the show several times, and it was always a great experience for us. People heard us and invited us to sing at their events and churches and really gave us a boost.

The studio where Ralph did his show was a large room, to the right of the main studio. There was a huge window between the two rooms, so the main board operator could see into Ralph’s studio. It also doubled as storage for records, and a newsroom where I would later work.

In fact, my first job at WJWL was board op’ing during the weekends, and later I was the Saturday morning DJ that got to introduce Ralph.

“It’s time now for the The Ralph Hoebee Show on WJWL, AM 900.”

I would point to Ralph and he’d start singing his theme song.

🎶 “Just a cottage small, where the pines grow tall…that’s where I long to be…” 🎶

Then he’d give me a nod, and continue to play his guitar as I talked over the music and, in my best announcer voice, said something like, “The Ralph Hoebee Show is sponsored by Millman’s Appliances, and Vernon Powell shoes. Blah blah blah. And now, here’s the Troubadour of the Eastern Shore…Ralph Hoebee”, at which point he’d start singing his theme song again.

He almost always opened the show with a song or two and then introduced his guest performer of the week.

Because I had been on his show before, Ralph knew me and one day he asked me if I wanted to bring my guitar in to the studio and play along with him.

So every Saturday morning, after I introduced him, I’d make sure the levels were set correctly and I’d run next door, grab my guitar, and play until it was time for the commercial break. Then I’d head back to the studio, read the live ads, and rejoin Ralph in studio B. The radio audience never knew and I thought it was not only cool, but I remember thinking, “I am getting paid for this!”

Live music on the radio used to be a big deal. Then it was relegated to Saturday and Sunday mornings. Then it disappeared completely, for the most part.

I think that’s sad.

Consultants would say it’s a tune out. People want to hear the hits.

But when we talked about WJWL at the birthday party last weekend…several people at my table remembered Ralph Hoebee, the Troubadour of the Eastern Shore, but nobody mentioned any of the hits we played.