Frank Wakefield should be in the Bluegrass Hall of Fame

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Frank Wakefield should be in the Bluegrass Hall of Fame FRANK WAKEFIELD is one of the most influential mandolinists in bluegrass, the link between Monroe an Please "Like" to show support.

This is an unofficial campaign to nominate FRANK WAKEFIELD to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Frank has been recording and playing gigs continuously since the 50's, but he has been dealing with some fairly serious health challenges lately. He has had several heart surgeries and he is currently recovering from a collapsed lung surgery. At age 78, Frank has never really received the credit he is due as

one of the most influential and innovative mandolin players and singer / composers in Bluegrass. The living link between Monroe and Grisman, Wakefield mastered Monroe-style mandolin early on, and then went on to stretch the limits of the genre while always maintaining a balance between tradition and invention. His work with Red Allen still stands as some of the strongest duet singing and bluegrass ensemble playing in history. He went on to participate in several high points in the evolution of the style including stints with The Stanleys, Jimmy Martin, The Greenbriar Boys, later with David Nelson and Jerry Garcia Frank served as an ambassador, recruiting legions of folk and rock fans in to the Bluegrass fold, and even playing with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. Several of Wakefield's original compositions have been adopted in to the classic repertoire of Bluegrass standards, and have been recorded and performed countless times by musicians around the globe. Most notably, "New Camptown Races" is a mandolin standard that can be heard every weekend at bluegrass festivals worldwide. A consummate showman, his instrumental virtuosity, "backin' talkwards" humor and clever wordplay have won him fans the world over. Still working and creating, his two recent albums on Patuxent Records stand up as some of the best work of his career. Frank still likes to practice daily, write new tunes and play shows, although his performance schedule has been limited since he started having heart surgeries about 5 years ago. A renegade spirit, Wakefield did not always fit in with the Bluegrass establishment and so he didn't always get the recognition his music warranted. But time has passed and even the free spirits of the genre deserve to be acknowledged if they have made significant and influential contributions to bluegrass that stand the test of time. Frank is one of those figures, and he deserves to be acknowledged along with his peers in the esteemed Bluegrass Hall of Fame !! "Give Them the Roses While They Live" - Please help nominate Frank Wakefield to the IBMA Bluegrass Hall of Fame!!

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This is an unofficial campaign to nominate FRANK WAKEFIELD to the Bluegrass Hall of Fame. Please "Like" to show support. Frank has been recording and playing gigs continuously since the 50's, but he has been dealing with some fairly serious health challenges lately. He has had several heart surgeries and he is currently recovering from a collapsed lung surgery. At age 85, Frank has never really received the credit he is due as one of the most influential and innovative mandolin players and singer / composers in Bluegrass. The living link between Monroe and Grisman, Wakefield mastered Monroe-style mandolin early on, and then went on to stretch the limits of the genre while always maintaining a balance between tradition and invention. Bill Monroe befriended Frank early on, and occasionally featured him as a guest in his shows. Frank’s work with Red Allen and the Kentuckians in the 50’s still stands as some of the strongest duet singing and bluegrass ensemble playing in history. Wakefield went on to participate in several high points in the evolution of the genre including stints with The Stanley Brothers and Jimmy Martin, among many others. Later he joined the “folk scare” with The Greenbriar Boys, played hippie bluegrass with iconic roots rockstars David Nelson and Jerry Garcia, and accompanied Grammy winner Don McLean. A tireless composer, Wakefield has an ever-increasing repertoire of his own works. Frank has continued performing, playing hard-core bluegrass, his virtuostic and unique mandolin inventions, and entertaining crowds with his trademark “backing talkwards” humor throughout the decades, spreading the gospel of traditional and innovative bluegrass, and recruiting legions of mainstream, folk and rock fans in to the bluegrass fold, even playing concerts with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. Several of Wakefield's original compositions have been adopted in to the classic repertoire of Bluegrass standards, and have been recorded and performed countless times by musicians around the globe. Most notably, "New Camptown Races" is a mandolin standard that can be heard every weekend at bluegrass festivals worldwide. A consummate showman, his instrumental virtuosity, "backin' talkwards" humor and clever wordplay have won him fans the world over. Still working and creating, his two recent albums on Patuxent Records stand up as some of the best work of his career. Frank still likes to practice daily, write new tunes and play shows, although his performance schedule has been limited since he started having heart surgeries about 5 years ago. A renegade spirit, Wakefield did not always fit in with the Bluegrass establishment and so he didn't always get the recognition his music warranted. But time has passed and even the free spirits of the genre deserve to be acknowledged if they have made significant and influential contributions to bluegrass that stand the test of time. Frank is one of those figures, and he deserves to be acknowledged along with his peers in the esteemed Bluegrass Hall of Fame !! "Give Them the Roses While They Live" - Please help nominate Frank Wakefield to the IBMA Bluegrass Hall of Fame!!