WHIL

[Thomas Heathwood]

While WCOP's "country period" in the 60's may be remembered as the last heard on 1150AM, it should be remembered that their greatest entry into the country field was in late 1951/early 1952 when the station developed the "Hayloft Jamboree" hosted by Nelson E. Bragg.  The Jamboree was actually a combination of programming - a M-F afternoon live show from studio A, an evening record show with Nelson himself spinning the records, assorted  programs of the individual artists,  and their really big live shows from some of the largest venues in Boston and the surrounding area.    Pepsi Cola and Beacon Wax put a lot of money into these shows, and imported some of the top country talent to play on these well attended shows which of course were broadcast on 1150, but to hire some tope attractions like Elton Britt to become a "staffer" on all the Jamboree enterprises.  Anyone in the country music business between 1952 and 1956 were heard on the Hayloft Jamboree which was extended to cover most of the New England area via a several-station connection called "The Hayloft Jamboree Network" with programming emanating chiefly from the 485 Boylston Street studios and remotes from big Saturday
night shows from Nantasket Beach, Mechanics Hall, The Boston Garden, and practically anyplace else you can think of where large crowds could be accommodated.  This was the hey-day of Country music on WCOP.  The later incarnation in the sixties was important
as a format for a while, but never had the magnitude of live shows, stars and variety programming as done in the 50's.          Tom Heathwood