Several of Bate's relatives had served as Confederate officers in the American Civil War, including a captain— also named Humphrey Bate— who was killed at the Battle of Shiloh.
[4] Throughout his teen years, Bate collected pocket change by playing harmonica on steamboats travelling up and down the Cumberland River.
He likely formed his first string band sometime around 1900, and subsequently acquired a reputation in the Nashville area by playing at various rallies and silent movie theaters.
[6] In September 1925, Bate and his band became the first musicians to play old-time music on Nashville radio when they performed on the small local station WDAD.
[8] In November 1925, WSM hired announcer George Hay, who had developed a popular program called National Barn Dance for Chicago radio station WLS.
Hay kept the barn dance format for WSM, and sought rural musicians from the Nashville area to play on the program.
[18] Bate's home in Castalian Springs, Hawthorn Hill, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.