Guitar, Billy (William H. Noble Jr, aka Hank Noble)

Websites:  No
Origin: Raleigh, NC USA - Calgary, Alberta
Biography:

Hank Noble was born on Nov 3, 1930 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.