Robert Nighthawk, born Robert Lee McCollum on November 30, 1909, was a prominent blues musician renowned for his exceptional slide guitar skills and his influential role in shaping the Chicago blues sound. Navigating through an array of stage names throughout his career, including Rambling Bob and Robert Lee McCoy, he settled on Robert Nighthawk in the 1940s, drawing from the elusive and nocturnal bird of prey as a symbol of his own roaming, elusive nature.

Nighthawk's music career was one marked by a blend of Delta blues roots and refined urban sophistication. His recording career began in the early 1930s, and although he never achieved the commercial success of some of his contemporaries, his artistry was widely respected among musicians and blues aficionados. Notable records like "Prowling With The Nighthawk" underscore his technical mastery and emotive playing style. His performances on "Live on Maxwell Street 1964" attest to his profound impact on the live blues scene during its heyday. Despite his death on November 5, 1967, Robert Nighthawk's legacy endures through the timeless quality of his recordings and the admiration of those who continue to be influenced by his work.