Ray Frank (DADGBE) is one of my Folk Music Mentors who helped me transition from Peter Paul and Mary and Kingston Trio to more substantial stuff. He'd often introduce a song in a singaround with, "Here's a song I think Joe will like." He came to the singaround that was my bachelor party before I got married, and he made a cake.
Ray came from the Bronx and got a start toward fame as an employee of Folk-Legacy Records, packaging records for mailing. As far as I know, Ray did only one recording of "Chickadee," on the Mudlark Nest recording by a group called Mudlark (Ray Frank, Laura Sandage, and Katie Henry). Sadly, the group is no more. They broke up before they had a chance to record a song they did called "Just Joe" that was about ME! I think the Mudlark album came out about 2007, but I first heard the song on the 1997 Voices of Winter album by Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills, and Cindy Mangsen. The Voices album says the words were by Stan Scott and music by Ray Andrews and Ray Frank. I'll have to call Ray Frank and get clarification but here is my transcription from the Mudlark album. The instrumental work on the Mudlark album is amazing. I'm wondering if Ray is playing his Frank Proffitt banjo on this.


CHICKADEE
(Words by Stan Scott and music by Ray Andrews and Ray Frank)

Chickadee, Chickadee, Chickadee-dee,
That's the song you sing to me;
Chickadee, Chickadee, Chickadee-dee,
On a Winter's morning.

We've got tea and clover honey,
Fresh-made bread to start the day;
Pile of wood and a roaring fire,
To help keep the cold winds at bay.

Chickadee, Chickadee, Chickadee-dee,
Singing in the sleeping tree
Chickadee, Chickadee, Chickadee-dee,
Soon she will be waking.

When the sun has its day,
Winter calls you on your way,
Who will come then to make (aaargh - can't figure it out!)
???? To spend each day merrily?

Chickadee, Chickadee, Chickadee-dee,
That's the song you sing to me;
Chickadee, Chickadee, Chickadee-dee,
On a Winter's morning.

We've got tea and clover honey,
Fresh-made bread to start the day;
Pile of wood and a roaring fire,
To help keep the cold winds at bay.