Frank Wakefield, a pioneering bluegrass mandolinist and songwriter renowned for his innovative techniques, passed away on, Friday April 26, 2024, at his home in Saratoga Springs, New York, due to complications from COPD. He was 89. Friends, family, and fans are invited to share their condolences in the Guest Book.
A Journey from Tennessee to Bluegrass Stardom
Born in Tennessee, Wakefield moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he began his musical journey as a child, mastering the guitar, bass, harmonica, and his signature instrument, the mandolin. Alongside his brother Ralph, the Wakefield Brothers gained popularity on Dayton radio during Frank’s teenage years.
The Rise to Fame
In the 1950s, Wakefield earned widespread recognition through his collaboration with bluegrass legend Red Allen. His composition, “New Camptown Races,” was first recorded in 1953 and has since become a bluegrass standard. Other notable songs include “Catnip” and “End of the Rainbow.”
Throughout his illustrious career, Wakefield collaborated with a range of artists from various genres. He played with the Greenbrier Boys, toured with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead, and even performed at Carnegie Hall with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.
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Innovating the Mandolin and Bluegrass
Frank Wakefield was celebrated for his imaginative innovations on the mandolin, pushing the boundaries of the instrument with unconventional tunings and chord changes. He also blended bluegrass with classical music, composing sonatas for mandolin and adapting classical pieces into bluegrass tunes.
His distinctive speech style, which he referred to as “balking tackwards,” added to his unique persona. He often twisted phrases, greeting people with “Goodbye” and playfully saying “Don’t you give us an encore, now” before launching into an encore.
Wakefield on songwriting
“I just get ideas from playing the mandolin all the time. I only play about an hour a day seven days a week, but when I want to write new tunes, I play a couple of hours a day … and when I am playing a lot of notes, then I just start putting pieces together. This is how I come up with a tune that don’t sound like other tunes.”Mondozine.com.
Tributes to Frank Wakefield
One of the greatest mandolin players of all time, Frank Wakefield, has passed pic.twitter.com/LNGgBvadJl
— Adam (@62fidla) May 1, 2024
Like most folks in #bluegrass, we were heartbroken to hear mandolin great Frank Wakefield passed last weekend. He was a one-of-a-kind voice and presence in bluegrass and on the mandolin. We're sending our love to his family, collaborators, and loved ones. https://t.co/feuxfAc9ne
— BGS (@TheBGSituation) May 1, 2024
Frank Wakefield once sanded the face of his Lloyd Loar F5, spray painted it with red epoxy, and BAKED it in his oven. Searching for the sound. Rest in wonder 🌈
— brdsong (@brdsong) April 28, 2024
Frank Wakefield passeshttps://t.co/tGCM3YFSHS pic.twitter.com/fZ6Hz6kFTm
— Bluegrass Today (@BluegrassToday) April 29, 2024
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