Ray Hobbs at WDOD
I had not been working long at WDOD in the mid 60’s before meeting radio personality and singer, Ray Clements Hobbs. I very quickly learned Ray never met a stranger and fit the role of someone being on the radio.
Ray was born in the Cooper Heights/Kensington, Ga., community on July 5, 1930. He graduated from Gordon Lee High School. I first heard him on the air in the mid 50’s. He was doing a country music program late at night called the “Hayride.” Station owner Earl Winger said WDOD tried several formats from 10 p.m. until midnight and Hobbs seemed to be the perfect fit.
The WDOD studio was in the Hamilton National Bank building and he met “the love of his life” while Pat was working at the bank. They were married for over 25 years until Ray’s death.
Ray became good friends with many of the Grand Ole Opry Stars. He would talk frequently with Jean Shepherd, Billy Walker, and Ernie Ashworth. In 1965, singer-movie star Tex Ritter found out that one of his favorite DJ’s had suffered a heart attack and came to see him at Curry Clinic in North Chattanooga. The Country Music Hall of Fame member's recordings included “High Noon” and “I Dreamed I was there in Hillbilly Heaven”.
Ray Hobbs was first to announce the engagement of Ms. Shepherd to Hawkshaw Hawkins, who was killed in the 1963 plane crash with Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas.
The radio personality knew many of the Hamilton County judges and area law enforcement officers. The late Criminal Court Judge Russell Hinson was one of Mr. Hobbs' regular listeners. The soft spoken judge really enjoyed traditional country music and said one time, “Ray played the best.”
I’m unsure of the year but Hobbs left WDOD and went to work for WDXB for several years. The station’s studio was downtown in the historic Dome Building. They programmed top 40 but later changed to what was known as “Sweet and Lively” music such as Dean Martin, Doris Day, Brenda Lee, the McGuire Sisters, Robert Goulet and other middle of the road artists, but Hobbs’ favorite music was always country.
Ray Hobbs returned to WDOD in 1965 and hosted the station's morning show once again playing his favorite country songs. He periodically returned to Nashville to interview the Stars.
Many Friday nights you’d find Ray backstage at the Grand Ole Opry recording conversations with his singer friends. He’d play the interviews on future shows.
In the 60’s, WDOD hosted several country music shows at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium and Ray Hobbs would serve as a master of ceremonies. He was “a natural” for the stage. I went with Hobbs to some of the shows including the Festival of Masters with Floyd Cramer, Chet Atkins, and Boots Randolph. I recall meeting so many of the popular country singers of the day including Norma Jean. Hobbs let me introduce former Governor Jimmie Davis and the Chuck Wagon Gang.
Ray did a weekly Sunday remote from Lake Winnepesaukah and interviewed the featured talent singing at the North Georgia amusement park. Some of those stars included Porter Wagoner, Dolly Parton, Patsy Cline, the Willis Brothers, Bill Anderson, the Stoneman Family, Charlie Louvin, Little Jimmy Dickens, Tanya Tucker, and many others. One Sunday, Hobbs was sick and management sent me to the park to do the broadcast. It was the summer Tammy Wynette was featured. During the interview this 18-year-old was as nervous as she was.
In 1966 and 1967 Ray returned to his birthplace to host the Tennessee Valley Playhouse, a country music and square dance venue at Kensington operated by the Henderson family. Guest singers included Stringbean, Grandpa Jones, and Merle Travis.
Mr. Travis always had to eat at Nikki’s Drive In when he came to Chattanooga and he’d take his favorite DJ with him.
Ray Hobbs also put together a weekly live country music broadcast at the Dixieland Club on Cummings Highway featuring Buck Turner and the Town and Country boys.
Ray had become good friends with Chart records owner Slim Williamson. The music executive recorded Hobbs on his Great Record label, “I Hurt Too Much to Die” and “Daddy Where is Mommy.” Williamson said the single sold about 100,000 which was good for a regional release. Hobbs was very proud when the late Ralph Emery interviewed him on his overnight show on WSM in Nashville.
One afternoon Ray invited me to go to Nashville with him to see Williamson. We walked in his office and there sat Lynn Anderson. The female artist was enjoying much success with appearances on the Lawrence Welk Show and her top 10 recording of “If I Kiss You Will You Go Away.” I only wish we’d had phone cameras in those days.
Ray Hobbs became good friends with former Hamilton County Executive Dalton Roberts. The two would get together at WDOD in the “Back room,” make a pot of coffee, and just pick and grin. It was fun for this young radio announcer to sit and listen. I remember Dalton picking the guitar while Ray would sing that ole standard, “Anytime.”
Ray was especially proud of his family - his wife Pat, and children Renee, Tonya, and Monty. After Hobbs retired from radio, we’d eat breakfast at the Dairy Gold on Dayton Boulevard and he’d tell me about their various accomplishments in school.
When Ray died in 1984, Dalton and I served as pallbearers for our friend at the Hamilton Memorial Gardens in Hixson. Roberts turned and whispered to me with a chuckle, “He’ll always be my favorite country announcer, he played my records.”
Earl Freudenberg
HeyEarl1971@epbfi.com
Tex Ritter stops by to visit with Ray Hobbs