Doc Williams Reflects on Life
By CASEY JUNKINS Staff WriterArticle Photos
WHEELING - The opening of Interstate 70 was still a few years away when country music legend Doc Williams came to Wheeling in 1937. But everyone traveling the highway now will know that he and his late wife, Chickie, helped put the Friendly City on the map.
"I was very honored and very humbled to have that done for us," Williams said in reaction to the West Virginia Division of Highways' recent naming of a section of highway between Washington Avenue and Elm Grove as the "Doc and Chickie Williams Highway; Country Music Royal Couple."
One of the sponsors of the legislation to name the roadway was Williams' grandson, current state Sen. and Wheeling Mayor-elect Andy McKenzie.
"I am very, very proud of Andy and everything that he has done. He has always been very devoted to the city of Wheeling, and I know he will do everything he can to help the city in the years to come," Williams said of McKenzie.
As for the highway sign, Williams said he appreciates the recognition for the many years that he and Chickie entertained fans as the headlining act of Jamboree USA.
"When I first came to Wheeling in 1937, the Jamboree was, really, not much. But it grew and grew and grew over the years," he said.
Williams was an active participant in Jamboree shows from 1937 to 2003, but he began his career playing acoustic guitar at square dances in small Pennsylvania towns.
"My grandmother bought me my first professional guitar in 1933. When President (Franklin D.) Roosevelt lifted the prohibition laws, I was able to play guitar at beer gardens for $1 a night," he said.
Williams and Chickie married in 1939. Chickie later gave birth to three daughters, Barbara, Madeline and Karen.
Over the next several years, Williams and Chickie headlined the Saturday night Jamboree that could be heard from Canada to Florida on AM radio, which helped draw loads of tourists to Wheeling for many decades.
"When Wheeling businessmen would go to Canada, they would always get discounts because the people knew our show," he said.
After playing at different venues throughout the city, Williams and the Jamboree made the Capitol Music Hall their permanent home in the late 1960s.
"The Capitol Music Hall is such a beautiful theater. And we have so many great memories from there that I really hope they can do something to save it," he said.
The Capitol was closed by current owner Live Nation in May 2007 when the Wheeling Fire Department announced 23 fire code violations at the theater.
Currently, the city of Wheeling, the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corp., the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Regional Economic Development Partnership are working to acquire and rehabilitate the Capitol.
Williams supports the efforts to reopen the theater.
"I hope they will do everything they can to get the theater open again," he said.
Williams also supports the efforts of the new Wheeling Jamboree to bring live, country music back to the Friendly City.
"Things are a lot different now than they used to be, but I wish them the best of luck with it. No one loves the Jamboree any more than I do," he said.
Though arthritis now prevents his from playing guitar for lengthy periods of time, Williams still likes to play at home once in a while.
"I still like to play a little now and then, but I can't do it for very long," he said.
One thing Williams does quite a bit of at home is answer fan mail, particularly the electronic variety.
"We have fans all of the country and all over the world. So when this whole Internet thing got going, I knew I wanted to be on the Internet," he said.
Fans can check out his Web site at www.docwilliams.com.
"I appreciate all the interest I get. I even got a message from a 16-year-old German boy who loves the classic country music," he said.
Williams said the major difference between the music he and Chickie played for many years and modern country music is that the new music incorporates electric guitars, keyboards, amplifiers and drums.
"Using these instruments creates a totally different sound. Modern country is much more like rock 'n' roll than classic country," he said.
Williams also said most of the new music lacks distinction.
"In my day, everyone had their own sound and style. Now it seems like everyone wants to sound the same," he said.
One modern country artist Williams admires greatly is Glen Dale native Brad Paisley.
"Brad Paisley is a credit to our profession. He has great drive and has worked very hard to accomplish what he has," Williams said.
Overall, Williams said life has given him much more than he ever expected in his 94 years.
"It has been a very interesting life ... much more than I ever thought it would be," he said.
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Quasar
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06-23-08 9:08 PM
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How many Jamborees do we need?
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ktbass
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06-23-08 3:06 PM
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Quasar, thats not JITH, it's a version of Jamboree USA!
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Quasar
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06-23-08 1:28 PM
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I heard on the radio that Jamboree in the Hills is being held at Brush run park this year.
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Ruby3947
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06-23-08 12:56 PM
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What a pleasure seeing Doc Williams, even if it is just a picture. I sure miss visiting his store there on main stree. I do not live in Wheeling anymore but I used to visit once a month to see the Jamboree and visit the Doc Williams store. Now it's no more and it makes me sad. I vote for yes to naming the road after such a icon for Wheeling and I wish there was still a Saturday Night Jamboree. God Bless Doc Williams.
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ktbass
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06-23-08 11:41 AM
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Donaldo, it has never been on the WV side!
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Donaldo
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06-23-08 11:17 AM
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is there any chance that the Jamboree in the Hill can be moved back to the West Virginia side? and, where does Doc Williams now liveA?
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Georgetwin
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06-23-08 10:09 AM
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OUTSTANDING and OVERDUE!
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MeanStreak
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06-23-08 8:43 AM
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A true class act couple!!! My Grams played Bingo with Chickie for many years and done many things with her. The family is stellar in the community. Hopefully their grandson will serve us well as mayor. See even their offspring has given to our great community. Thanks for being such a great family.
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atoddh
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06-22-08 9:43 PM
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"Jamboree in the Hills" continues as a highly profitable,privately owned,regional C&W venue. JITH carries forward the commercial music tradition of Jamboree USA in the Ohio Valley. This includes the legacy of Doc Williams and the other senior, nationally known generation of Country performers.
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sweeteyetiger
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06-22-08 6:01 PM
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I am so pleased to hear about the new highway's name. I call that the best honor anyone could get. I have always heard of Doc and his wife from my mom and dad. Doc and Chickie are legends in their own time. I have been in their store many times and I enjoyed it very much. His style of country music will live on as long as there are people here who remember them and their music. I was heart broken when I heard the Capital Music Hall was going to close; it is another land mark of Wheeling's that went away.
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DavidF
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06-22-08 5:48 PM
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Thank you Doc for all the years of entertainment, I have been a Jamboree fan for 50 years and I would love to see the old days back again....new....and maybe better.
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atoddh
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06-22-08 1:50 PM
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The model of the Jamboree during the Doc Williams era is a good one that worked.Doc was a resident celebrity anchor. At times it emulated "The Grand Ole Oprey" in Nashville which has been expanded as a huge private real estate development.A similar private development should now be encourged-not discourged-in Wheeling.The non-profit development attemps Downtown have not worked despite the millions invested. A private investor/operator is needed as was the case in former years.To say the Jamboree/Capital should be non-profit is like saying the NR/INTEL or Wheeling Downs should be WNHAC/City projects.
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JaymeJones
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06-22-08 10:49 AM
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Doc and Chickie Williams made this area great. And anyone who wants to make a go of the Jamboree would do well to go talk to Doc about it. A class act from day one.
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rmv4285
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06-22-08 9:37 AM
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I've seen Doc and Chickie many times at the Capital Music Hall. I also had the great honor to meet Doc as his shop across the street. He made a beautiful belt for me and engraved my name in it. Thanks to Doc and Chickie for the many, many years of entertainment you brought to the Valley.
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UNCOMMONSENSE
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06-22-08 6:45 AM
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Doc is a TRUE country legend. Doc DEFINES country music. Doc gave many up and coming artists the chance to live their dreams. And like a father he was always there for advice. Just one of many artists that had the honor to work with Doc was Glendale native Lionel Cartwright. In every interview Lionel ever gave, he always rightfully gave credit to Doc Williams. Doc Williams put Wheeling and the Jamboree on the map. Thank you Doc!
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atoddh
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06-22-08 1:02 AM
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Note that Mr. Williams is describing, correctly, the Jamoboree as a private, for-profit,media-related tourism development. This is not the approach currently being taken with the Capital.An approach that will not result in the extraordinary tourism and benefit to Wheeling of the former Jamboree but rather be a financial burden to the City & public.
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