Frank Wakefield

Among the main innovators within the mandolin, Frank Wakefield played right bluegrass with several well-known rings, including Crimson Allen as well as the Greenbriar Kids. Born right into a musical family members in Emory Distance, Tennessee, by age group eight he currently knew how exactly to play harmonica, acoustic guitar, and bass. In 1950, his family members shifted to Dayton, Ohio, and quickly afterward he used the mandolin and shaped the gospel-oriented Wakefield Brothers with sibling Ralph, who performed acoustic guitar. In 1951, the brothers produced their 1st radio appearance in Dayton. Following the duo split, Frank teamed with Crimson Allen in 1952 to create Crimson Allen & Frank Wakefield as well as the Kentuckians. They continued to be companions through 1972, sometimes pursuing side tasks as well. It had been with Allen that Wakefield perfected the banjo and Dobro, so when he shifted with Allen to Washington, D.C. in 1960, he started offering personal mandolin lessons; his star pupil was a David Grisman. Wakefield became a member of the Greenbriar Kids in 1965 and continued to be together through 1970. He also documented The Frank Wakefield Music group in 1971, and lower Pistol Packin’ Mama in 1974 along with his group the nice Old Kids, featuring looks by Don Reno, Dave Nelson, and Chubby Smart, with Jerry Garcia within the producer’s seat. Wakefield in addition has continued to instruct (and released an instructional video) and it has recorded in to the 21st hundred years, releasing Midnight over the Mandolin (2000), Don’t Rest if you ask me (2003), and Ownself Blues (2009), all over the Patuxent label.