Large publicity photo of Gene Hooper, back when he was with Ray Little's Radio Cowboy Show, WLBZ Radio, Bangor, Maine. His career started in Maine and Atlantic Canada and then spread farther afield, including a stint with WWVA of Wheeling, West Virginia's and the World's Original Jamboree show. At one point, he performed on the radio every day at midnight with Crazy Elmer.
He was born Eugene Merrill Hooper on 22 November 1923 in Machias, Maine. He and his wife Flo had 5 children. Flo and daughter Sharlene, both talented singers, performed with Gene as the Gene Hooper Family Show.
I understand that he's retired now, but he continued to perform into his eighties. Fittingly, he was inducted into the Maine Country Music Association Hall of Fame in 1980.
Hopefully you will enjoy this memento - thanks for stopping by!
Heirlooms.Reunited@gmail.com
Twitter ID: http://twitter.com/ToddHouse
Google Buzz: ToddHouse Genealogy
Downeast Maine & Maritime Canada Genealogy
I miss you Pappy, we all do. If Grammy Flo is on her way to you, I would love to see your smile when you see her. We will miss you both VERY, VERY, MUCH, but for now we pray to have Grammy for just a while longer if she's spared the pain. Your never far from our thoughts & always close to our hearts. In a sense we are not far behind you. Take care of Grammy Flo.
ReplyDeleteWonderful tribute!
ReplyDeleteGENE U WERE ONE OF MY HEROES I FOLLOWED YOU AS A COUNTRY PERFORMER STARTING IN 1955 ;I ALSO MET U AT PRESQUE ISLE MAINE AROUND 1947 UNSURE OF YEAR I WAS 8 YRS OLD, U SURE SEEMED TALL TO ME. 15 YRS LATER I MET U AND FLO AT YOUR HOME, WE PLAYED OUR D 35 MARTIN GUITARS. I LATER VISITED U AT YOUR SHOWS BACK STAGE U HAD A VOICE TO EQUAL ANY OF THEM AND U WERE THE BEST IN ALL ENDEAVORS PAR EXCELLENT SINGER. WE THOUGHT MUCH OF U MISTER
ReplyDelete'S"[ PRIVATE JOKE ] WE ALL MISS U GENE SO VERY MUCH ' I BET U MET JIMMIE RODGERS UP THERE YODELING YOURS
LARRY PELKEY