Art:

Frank told me that when he was making music (which he used to do for local dances) with other musicians, he often played guitar. In fact, he used the guitar on a couple of the songs on his second Folk-Legacy album. Very basic, but solid. You may recall seeing the fine old photograph that Frank Warner took of the family at Nathan Hicks' place on Beech Mountain back in about 1940. Frank is playing guitar in that shot. He also did some songs with dulcimer on his second Folk-Legacy recording. Remember?

I think he realized that his fretless banjo was of great interest to us "flatlanders," so he concentrated on that in the first session I had with him in that little cabin in "Pickbritches Valley." Remember the wonderful answer ge gave me when I asked him, "Frank, what do you think of the Scruggs style of banjo playing?" He studied on that for a short time, then responded, "Well, I'd like to be able to do it.... and then not do it." What he meant was that while he could admire the skill such playing required, it was not the way the banjo was played in his tradition, nor was it appropriate for his small, home-made, fretless instrument.

He was really a very perceptive gentleman.

Sandy