Frank Greathouse joins old friend Lightnin' Wells and host Silas Albright to discuss his journey.
Frank co-founded the New Deal String Band, an influential long-haired bluegrass band out of North Carolina in the late 1960s who paved the way for the Newgrass style.
After Frank dropped off a record at Fillmore East when he was passing through for Woodstock, the New Deal String Band landed a gig at the iconic NYC venue in December of 1969, which led to a great review in Billboard Magazine and a major record deal with Sire. The band released an album, traveled nationally and became a regular act at Carlton Haney's legendary bluegrass festivals.
At one of those festivals in Camp Springs, NC, Bill Monroe joined New Deal on stage for a performance. Frank and the Father of Bluegrass played mandolin together on Dusty Miller.
Later, Frank befriended bluesman George Herbert Moore and traveled around playing gigs with different groups and as a solo performer. He ran a waterfront music venue in Wilmington, NC, and successful music shops in Florida.
Songs included in episode:
0:00: One More Night - New Deal String Band
19:44: Dusty Miller - New Deal String Band
45:42: O Lordy Mama - George Herbert Moore
1:00:31: Black Girl - Frank Greathouse featuring Leroy Savage
1:08:03: What Did I Do? - Frank Greathouse
Links:
-Video of New Deal String Band playing Love Potion No. 9 at Camp Springs in 1971
-The contract between the Fillmore East and the New Deal String Band for their concert Dec. 2, 1969 in a Facebook post
-Audio of New Deal playing One More Night, Memories of Mother & Dad, Prisoner's Songs
-Audio (49 minutes worth) of New Deal playing Camp Springs in 1971
-Burgaw Blues video of George Herbert Moore, with Frank introducing him and Lightnin' playing harmonica with him
-Frank plays an original tune, Sack Full O'Possum, at the Florida Seafood Festival
Lightnin' Wells has showcased his deep repertoire of historic music for decades. In our pilot episode, we're focused on his ukuleles.
Lightnin' shares some narrative and history on the instrument and dives deeper into several of the tracks from his latest release, an all ukulele compilation called Foolin' Around.
Stick around after the conversation for a taste of the album-- Lightnin' plays the title song Foolin' Around live in our makeshift studio on his back porch.
Links:
-Photo gallery of complementary images from Lightnin's collection
3:27: Profile on Lightnin's friend, Del Rey. She mentions Lightnin' and describes Sandy Hines' influence. Hines is also quoted.
5:52: Profile on May Singhi Breen, 'The Ukulele Lady'
16:54: YouTube video of Lightnin' playing Cryin' for the Carolines at the Augusta Heritage Center in Elkins, WV
17:54: Animated music video from 1930 of Cryin' for the Carolines played by organist Milton Charles
20:45: Never Swat a Fly performance by Frank Albertson and Marjorie White Just Imagine (1930)
21:13: Video of Lightnin' playing Somewhere Over the Rainbow in Port Townsend, WA
21:43: Music video of Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel 'IZ' Kamakawiwoʻole
Cover photo by Rylan Puckett