Interview with Frank Wakefield, December 3, 2006

Partial Transcript: You tell me when.

Segment Synopsis: Frank Wakefield is introduced. He talks about his childhood in Emory Gap, Tennessee. He talks about how he first began playing guitar and how he taught himself to play. He talks about his early influences and teachers.

Keywords: African Americans; Blues; Chords; Emory Gap (Tenn.); Family; Grandfathers; Guitars; Harmonica; Influences; Learning; Mothers; Open tuning; Playing music; Radio

Subjects: Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Childhood; Families.; Music--Instruction and study.; Musical ability in children.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical instruments.; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now your, now your father, uh, uh, worked for the railroad.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about his father's background and interest in music. He talks about his mother's family genealogy.

Keywords: Australia; Brothers; Cherokee; Fathers; Ireland; Mothers; Music; Railroads; Rendering lard; Sisters

Subjects: Childhood; Families.; Genealogy

Partial Transcript: Then, uh, that's when I started on the mandolin.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about learning to play the mandolin. He talks about hearing other mandolin players, including Bill Monroe, Jethro Burns, Jesse McReynolds, and others.

Keywords: Bean Blossom Festival, Indiana; Bill Monroe (Artist); Blue Sky Boys (Artist); Burns, Jethro (Artist); Carl Story (Artist); Grand Ole Opry; Influences; Jesse McReynolds (Artist); Jethro Burns (Artist); Learning to play; Mandolin players; Mandolins; McReynolds, Jesse (Artist); Monroe, Bill (Artist); Records; Rector, Red (Artist); Red Rector (Artist); Story, Carl (Artist)

Subjects: Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Childhood; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability in children.; Musical ability.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now your brother and you, you formed a team called the Wakefield Brothers.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about forming a band with his brother Ralph and playing radio shows and religious revivals.

Keywords: Brother Stacy; Concerts; Duets; Gigs; Harmonizing; Harmony singing; Live shows; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Ohio; Religious revivals; Shows; Singing; Singing parts; WHIL (Radio station); WING (Radio station); Wakefield Brothers (Artist)

Subjects: Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Religion

Partial Transcript: Now you were sitting on the porch in, in--a, around that time and is that when you were talking--

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about how he began playing music with Red Allen and learning more about playing the mandolin. He talks about forming the Blue Ridge Mountain Boys with Allen and Noah Crase. He talks about playing shows, and how he and Allen handled song requests in different ways. He talks about meeting the Osbourne Brothers in Dayton, Ohio. He talks about his relationship with Red Allen.

Keywords: Accidents; Alcohol; Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Bars; Blue Ridge Mountain Boys (Artist); Crase, Noah (Artist); David Grisman (Artist); Dayton (Ohio); Fights; Grisman, David (Artist); Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Honky Tonk Angel (Song); Influences; Kitty Wells (Artist); Learning to play; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Money; Noah Crase (Artist); Osborne Brothers (Artist); Red Allen (Artist); Relationships; Requests; Songs; Teaching; Washington (D.C.); Washington, D.C.; Wells, Kitty (Artist)

Subjects: Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical families; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: We're, we're, we're gonna, you know, cover that but I thought we'd talk about it, you know--

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about playing shows at Pentecostal revivals and tells a story about someone hiding in a coffin and popping out during a revival.

Keywords: Chillicothe (Ohio); Churches; Coffins; Concerts; Dead; Gigs; Healing; Leukemia; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Money; Nieces; Pentecostal; Pranks; Prayers; Religious revivals; Shows; Sisters; Tents

Subjects: Music--Performance.; Musical performance; Musicians; Religion

Partial Transcript: So you were talking, you know, about you going back to the bars and I know that Marsha and, and I and you were talking...

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about working with Sid Campbell as a booker. He talks about the differences between bar shows and college shows. He talks about why he covers the brand name on his mandolin, the mandolins he has owned, painting his mandolin, and putting his mandolin in an oven.

Keywords: Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Bars; Bernstein, Dan; Bill Monroe (Artist); Booking; Brand names; Bridges (Instruments); Campbell, Sid; Cliff Sargent; Colleges; Color; Concerts; Costs; Crase, Noah (Artist); Dan Bernstein; David Harvey (Artist); Dayton (Ohio); Gigs; Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Harvey, David (Artist); Learning to play; Lloyd Loar mandolins; Mandolin players; Mandolins; McCoury, Ronnie (Artist); Models; Monroe, Bill (Artist); Noah Crase (Artist); Paint; Phillips, Todd (Artist); Promises; Red Allen (Artist); Refinishing; Ronnie McCoury (Artist); Sargent, Cliff; Shows; Sid Campbell; Todd Phillips (Artist); Venues

Subjects: Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now, now, you know, we're--want to get back to Dayton because, uh, uh, Bobby and Sonny, you met them there at that time too, right?

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks more about meeting the Osbourne Brothers. He talks about asking Bobby Osbourne for advice after his open heart surgery and the complications that arose from the surgery. He talks about musicians who have lost fingers and continued playing music.

Keywords: Accidents; Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Bobby Osborne (Artist); Breaks, musical; Chords; Dayton (Ohio); Drill shops; Fingers; Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Health; Influences; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Open heart surgery; Operations; Osborne Brothers (Artist); Osborne, Bobby (Artist); Osborne, Sonny (Artist); Red Allen (Artist); Singing; Sonny Osborne (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now Red and you were playing in those bars in, in, in Dayton, in those clubs in Dayton and then Red, uh, decided to, uh, join the Osbourne Brothers.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about playing with Jimmy Martin in Detroit, Michigan and the other musicians who played with them. He talks about being tired on tour. He talks about writing songs and solos.

Keywords: Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Bill Monroe (Artist); Bobby Osborne (Artist); Breaking up; Crowe, J. D. (Artist); Detroit (Mich.); Driving; Earl Taylor (Artist); Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Income; J. D. Crowe (Artist); Jerry Sullivan (Artist); Jimmy Martin (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Martin, Jimmy (Artist); Money; Monroe, Bill (Artist); Osborne Brothers (Artist); Osborne, Bobby (Artist); Osborne, Sonny (Artist); Payment; Red Allen (Artist); Red Stanley (Artist); Solos; Songwriting; Sonny Osborne (Artist); Stanley, Red (Artist); Sullivan, Jerry (Artist); Taylor, Earl (Artist); Tired; Tours

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical performance; Musicians; Travel.

Partial Transcript: So you played with the Stanley Brothers too?

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about playing with the Stanley Brothers for three weeks before he decided he was too tired to travel. He talks about some of the other musicians he worked with.

Keywords: Bill Napier (Artist); Béla Fleck (Artist); Carter Stanley (Artist); Cooke, Jack (Artist); Crosspicking; Darrell "Pee Wee" Lambert (Artist); Fleck, Béla (Artist); Guitars; Jack Cooke (Artist); Lambert, Darrell "Pee Wee" (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Musical styles; Napier, Bill (Artist); Playing styles; Ralph Stanley (Artist); Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the (Artist); Stanley, Carter (Artist); Stanley, Ralph (Artist); Sullivan Family (Artist); Television shows; The Stanley Brothers and the Clinch Mountain Boys (Artist); Tired; Touring; Tours; Trios

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Here's sort of a new song I wrote.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield plays a song he wrote titled "Own Self Blues."

Keywords: Mandolin players; Mandolins; Own Self Blues (Song); Playing; Songwriting

Subjects: Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: I was just, I was just wondering about, um, uh, you all--we were talking about some of the people that you played with during that time...

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about playing with Enoch and Margie Sullivan in the South. He talks about the places they would play, the low amount of pay they would receive, and being hungry.

Keywords: Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Bars; Concerts; Crackers; Enoch Sullivan (Artist); Gigs; Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Hungry; Income; Jamborees; Jerry Sullivan (Artist); Johnny McKee (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Margie Sullivan (Artist); McKee, Johnny (Artist); Money; Payment; Radio programs; Radio shows; Red Allen (Artist); Schools; Shows; Sullivan Family (Artist); Sullivan, Enoch (Artist); Sullivan, Jerry (Artist); Sullivan, Margie (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now, now Marvin Cobb and The Chain, um, uh, the Chain Mountain, uh, Boys--

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about recording "You're the One" and "New Camptown Races." He talks about playing with Don McLean.

Keywords: A cappella; Albums; Backing bands; Buster Turner (Artist); Don McLean (Artist); Fingers; Fronting bands; Hensley, Walter (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Marvin Cobb, Frank Wakefield and The Chain Mountain Boys (Artist); McLean, Don (Artist); Minor key; New Camptown Races (Song); Songs; The Persuasions (Artist); Turner, Buster (Artist); Walter Hensley (Artist); Wayside Music label; You're the One (Song)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: Now Jimmy Martin brought you--was he the first one to bring you over to Baltimore?

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about moving to Washington, D.C. and meeting other Bluegrass musicians there, including The Stonemans, Hazel Dickens, and more. He talks about playing shows in D.C.

Keywords: Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Baltimore (Md.); Benefit shows; Bluegrass Champs (Artist); Bus stations; Dickens, Hazel (Artist); Donna Stoneman (Artist); Haddock, Kenny (Artist); Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Hazel Dickens (Artist); Jimmy Martin (Artist); Jobs; Kenny Haddock (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Martin, Jimmy (Artist); Patsy Stoneman (Artist); Red Allen (Artist); Roy Self (Artist); Scotty Stoneman (Artist); Self, Roy (Artist); Singing; Stoneman Family (Artist); Stoneman, Donna (Artist); Stoneman, Patsy (Artist); Stoneman, Scotty (Artist); The Famous (Venue); Washington (D.C.); Washington, D.C.

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: That, that was, uh, uh, the, the wreck, wreck was, uh--well, you want to talk a, about the wreck and, and, and--

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about being involved in a car accident which took him a month to recover from and also resulted in loss of taste and smell for five years. He was playing with the Greenbriar Boys at the time of the accident and he talks about how he initially met them. He talks about how he met Pete Seeger.

Keywords: Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Bob Yellin (Artist); Car accidents; Car wrecks; Fred Wise (Artist); Greenbriar Boys (Artist); Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Harrell, John (Artist); John Harrell (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Pete Seeger (Artist); Ralph Rinzler (Artist); Red Allen (Artist); Rinzler, Ralph (Artist); Seeger, Pete (Artist); Songwriting; Spokesman; Wise, Fred (Artist); Yellin, Bob (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now, now Red Spurlock, Allen, and you cut some sides for BMC called "The Redheads."

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about working with Red Spurlock, teaching other musicians to play, and his troubles with the IBMA over not being paid for shows.

Keywords: 1955; Albums; Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Banjo players; Banjos; Crase, Noah (Artist); Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Income; International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA); Kuykendall, Pete (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Money; Noah Crase (Artist); Payment; Pete Kuykendall (Artist); Pete Roberts (Artist); Red Allen (Artist); Red Spurlock (Artist); Roberts, Pete (Artist); Spurlock, Red (Artist); Teaching; The Redheads (Album)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Should we, should we start it back up?

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about playing at a festival at Sunset Park, playing on television shows, and trying to trade his mandolin.

Keywords: Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Baltimore (Md.); Busby, Buzz (Artist); Buzz Busby (Artist); Cooke, Jack (Artist); Davis, Ray; Emcees; Franklin County Boys (Artist); Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Jack Cooke (Artist); Johnny's Used Cars; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Mike Seeger (Artist); Ray Davis; Red Allen (Artist); Seeger, Mike (Artist); Sponsorships; Sunset Park; Television shows; Trades; Trading

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music festivals.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now 1960, uh, R--is, is that the r--time with Red Allen and you, uh, formed the Kentuckians and, and started working...

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about the other members of the Kentuckians when he played with them. He talks about recording with the Kentuckians and their contract and pay arrangements. He talks about other musicians he worked with, booking shows, radio shows, and record deals. He talks about meeting Bill Monroe.

Keywords: Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Asch, Moses; Baker, Bill (Artist); Baltimore (Md.); Bill Clifton (Artist); Bill Monroe (Artist); Billy Baker (Artist); Booking; Carlton Haney; Chubby Wise (Artist); Church, Porter (Artist); Clifton, Bill (Artist); Contracts; Country Gentlemen, the (Artist); David Grisman (Artist); Folkways Records; Grisman, David (Artist); Haddock, Kenny (Artist); Haney, Carlton; Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Income; Kenny Haddock (Artist); Kuykendall, Pete (Artist); Learning to play; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Money; Monroe, Bill (Artist); Moses Asch; Nashville (Tenn.); New York; Oakleaf Park; Orbison, Roy (Artist); Package shows; Payment; Pete Kuykendall (Artist); Pete Roberts (Artist); Pete Seeger (Artist); Porter Church (Artist); Radio shows; Record deals; Red Allen (Artist); Roberts, Pete (Artist); Roy Orbison (Artist); Seeger, Pete (Artist); Songs; Sponsors; Starday Records; Teaching; The Country Gentlemen (Artist); The Kentuckians (Artist); The Kitchen Tapes (Album); Wise, Chubby (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music festivals.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Travel.

Partial Transcript: So after you got done playing that--so then you went with the Greenbriar Boys after that, right?

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks more about playing with the Greenbriar Boys and the differences between shows at bars and shows at colleges. He talks more about teaching other musicians to play and sing.

Keywords: 1967; Albums; Audiences; Backgrounds; Bill Emerson (Artist); Bob Yellin (Artist); Colleges; Concerts; Crowds; Different; Emerson, Bill (Artist); Emotion; Feeling; French; Gigs; Greenbriar Boys (Artist); Herald, John (Artist); John Herald (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Mechanical; Natural; Shows; Singing; Talent; Teaching; Yellin, Bob (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Now, now you, you left Washington, D.C. in '67.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about moving from Washington, D.C. to Xenia, Ohio shortly before the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Keywords: Assassinations; Children; Dangerous; Guns; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Moving; Police; Race riots; Washington, D.C.; Xenia (Ohio)

Subjects: King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Now when did you move to New York?

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about Caffe Lena in Saratoga and its owner, Lena Spencer, who booked shows and managed Wakefield. He talks more about recording and more about working with Don McLean.

Keywords: 1968; Booking; Caffe Lena (Venue); Cap Records; Children; Concerts; Don McLean (Artist); Gigs; Greenbriar Boys (Artist); Managers; Mandolin players; Mandolins; McLean, Don (Artist); Moving; New York; Saratoga (N.Y.); Shows

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: People named all the tunes for me that's on that one record.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about naming songs and plays his song, "Rockwood." He talks about the styles he plays and the ways he tunes his mandolin. He talks more about his musical influences.

Keywords: Baez, Joan (Artist); Black Mountain Rag (Song); Blues; Everly Brothers (Artist); Influences; Joan Baez (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Musical styles; Names; Playing styles; Rockwood (Song); Songs; Songwriting; Television; Tuning

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now that I've procrastinated that maybe, uh, y'all will ask me some questions.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about when he began to write and play mandolin solos.

Keywords: Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Banjos; Caffe Lena; Concerts; Festivals; Fiddles; Gigs; Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Hartford, John (Artist); Income; John Hartford (Artist); Lena Spencer; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Money; New York; Payment; Public Broadcasting Service (PBS); Red Allen (Artist); Shows; Solos; Songwriting; Television shows

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Right about the same time, I mean, how did the Rounder Record come about when Country Cooking was on it with you?

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about who worked with him on "Frank Wakefield With Country Cooking." He talks more about working with Don McLean. He talks about recording "Country Classics."

Keywords: Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Barenberg, Russ (Artist); Booking; Boston (Mass.); Country Classics (Album); Country Cooking (Artist); Don McLean (Artist); Frank Wakefield With Country Cooking (Album); General Electric (GE); Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Jobs; Kenny Kosek (Artist); Kosek, Kenny (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; McLean, Don (Artist); Pete Wernick (Artist); Peter Rowan (Artist); Red Allen (Artist); Rounder Records; Rowan, Peter (Artist); Russ Barenberg (Artist); The Good Ol' Boys (Artist); Wernick, Pete (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: And then you, you were talking about, uh, The Good Ol' Boys with "Pistol Packin' Mama."

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about how he came to work with Jerry Garcia as the producer of "Pistol Packin' Mama" and the other musicians who played on the album. He talks about the payment for the album, picking the songs, and its sales.

Keywords: Album covers; Audio recording studios; Chubby Wise (Artist); Costs; Crowds; David Nelson (Artist); Dawson, John; Don Reno (Artist); Garcia, Jerry (Artist); Grateful Dead (Artist); Income; Jerry Garcia (Artist); John Dawson; Leave Well Enough Alone (Song); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Marijuana; Money; Nelson, David (Artist); Payment; Pistol Packin' Mama (Album); Producers; Reno, Don (Artist); Rounder Records; Sales; Songs; The Good Ol' Boys (Artist); United Artists; Wise, Chubby (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Sound recordings.; Sound--Recording and reproducing

Partial Transcript: Now you two met in, uh--right around that time.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about meeting his partner Marsha in 1977. He talks about playing on the West Coast and the musicians he played with.

Keywords: 1977; Anger, Darol (Artist); Bay Records; Blues Stay Away From Me (Song); Booking; California; Concerts; Crowds; Darol Anger (Artist); David Nelson (Artist); Gigs; Grass Valley (Calif.); Kallick, Kathy (Artist); Kathy Kallick (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Meeting; Nelson, David (Artist); Oakland (Calif.); Shows; Stern, Tom (Artist); Tom Stern (Artist); Touring; Tours; West Coast

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music festivals.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Travel.

Partial Transcript: When you--I'm sorry, go ahead.

Segment Synopsis: The interview is interrupted by visitors who speak with Wakefield about his album "New Camptown Races."

Keywords: Cliff Sargent; Mandolin players; Mandolins; New Camptown Races (Album); Sargent, Cliff

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Records.; Sound recordings.

Partial Transcript: Let me start off with the "Black Mountain Rag."

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield plays the song "Black Mountain Rag" and talks about how he tunes his mandolin for the song.

Keywords: Black Mountain Rag (Song); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Tuning

Subjects: Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: I want to ask you all some questions.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks more about playing on the West Coast and some of the musicians he played with. He talks more about musicians who lost fingers. He talks about being written about in articles for Rolling Stone magazine and Playboy magazine. He talks more about playing at Caffe Lena.

Keywords: Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Bob Dylan (Artist); Caffe Lena; California; Dylan, Bob (Artist); Fingers; Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Lena Spencer; Magazine articles; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Playboy magazine; Red Allen (Artist); Rolling Stone magazine; Singing; Vern Williams (Artist); Williams, Vern (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now ho--why don't you talk about coming back, uh, to the East Coast and, and what caused all that.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about beginning to give music lessons when he was on the West Coast. He talks about why he moved back to the East Coast and the difficulty of booking shows. He talks about playing festivals. He tells a story about playing "Happy Birthday" to his band members at restaurants, which sometimes resulted in free meals. He talks about an interaction with Bill Monroe.

Keywords: 1984; Allen, Harley “Red” (Artist); Allen, Red (Artist); Bill Keith (Artist); Bill Monroe (Artist); Booking; California; Concerts; East Coast; Gigs; Happy Birthday (Song); Harley “Red” Allen (Artist); Income; Jimmy Martin (Artist); Keep the A String Going (Song); Keith, Bill (Artist); Lessons; Lying; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Martin, Jimmy (Artist); Money; Monroe, Bill (Artist); Moving; Ohio; Opportunities; Payment; Red Allen (Artist); Restaurants; Saratoga (N.Y.); Shows; Students; Summit; Teaching; Touring; Tours

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass festivals; Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music festivals.; Music--Economic aspects.; Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Now, now you mentioned "Flight of the Bumblebee."

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about beginning to write and play classical songs. He talks about how this led to him playing with a symphony, and he describes these shows.

Keywords: Bernstein, Leonard (Artist); Classical music; Leonard Bernstein (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Orchestras; Songwriting; Symphony; Timing

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now I saw that you were picking with the, the--you, you were doing some like picking with your fingers too.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks more about his style of playing the mandolin and more about teaching students. He plays the song "Danny Boy."

Keywords: Danny Boy (Song); Finger picking; Lessons; Musical styles; Playing styles; Students; Teaching

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Don't you ask me anymore questions now.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about why he started making instructional videos to teach students how to play mandolin.

Keywords: 1996; Audio tapes; Henry, Murphy (Artist); Instructional videos; Learning; Lessons; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Murphy Henry (Artist); Right hand; Teaching

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now, L--when did, when did Lena pass a, away?

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about recording "Mandolin Extravaganza" and the other musicians who played on the record. He talks about his heart attack and surgery.

Keywords: Awards; Bobby Osborne (Artist); David Grisman (Artist); Death; Del McCoury (Artist); Grisman, David (Artist); Heart attacks; International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA); Lena Spencer; Mandolin Extravaganza (Album); Mandolin players; Mandolins; McCoury, Del (Artist); McCoury, Ronnie (Artist); Open heart surgery; Osborne, Bobby (Artist); Ronnie McCoury (Artist)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Now, we were hoping that you'd maybe, um, play--

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield plays the song "Wildwood Flower" on the guitar.

Keywords: Guitars; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Songs; Wildwood Flower (Song)

Subjects: Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: Not too bad.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks more about teaching students and how he feels when they succeed. He talks about teaching workshops and the future of Bluegrass music.

Keywords: 1980s; 1990s; Booking; Concerts; Dave Long (Artist); David Grisman (Artist); Future; Gigs; Grisman, David (Artist); Influence; Jim Moss (Artist); Lessons; Long, Dave (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Moss, Jim (Artist); Music stores; Open heart surgery; Professional musicians; Right hand; Self-taught; Serious; Shows; Students; Successful; Teaching; Workshops; Young people

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Instruction and study.; Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians

Partial Transcript: And there's something else, you asked me what I thought about the music.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield talks about his role in Bluegrass, especially in regard to his songwriting. He talks about his current band members in the Frank Wakefield Band. He talks about his experience playing in Tokyo, Japan.

Keywords: Backing bands; Frank Wakefield Band (Artist); Hiddle, John (Artist); John Hiddle (Artist); Mandolin players; Mandolins; Mistakes; Musical styles; Playing styles; Songs; Songwriting; Tokyo (Japan)

Subjects: Bands (Music); Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical groups.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians; Travel.

Partial Transcript: Well, thank you Frank.

Segment Synopsis: Wakefield closes the interview by playing "Red River Valley" first on the guitar and then on the mandolin. He talks about how he holds his picks. The interview is concluded.

Keywords: Mandolin picks; Mandolin players; Mandolins; Red River Valley (Song)

Subjects: Bluegrass music.; Bluegrass musicians; Mandolin music (Bluegrass); Music--Performance.; Musical ability.; Musical instruments.; Musical performance; Musicians