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Frank Edwards

Frank Edwards

After learning the guitar in 1923 in St Petesburg (Florida), Tampa Red taught Frank Edwars the bottleneck style. Early in 1941, Frank met Tommy McClennan through whom he recorded for Okeh in Chicago. Around 1946, he stayed in Atlanta and then hit the road again and played in juke joints and medicine shows across the South. Renouncing to travel, he settled in Atlanta in the early fifties and performed locally. Around 1965, he gave up music to become a painter and carpenter. Reunited with Pete Lowery in 1971, he cut his unique and excellent album the following year for Trix and participated in March 1973 in the Chapel Hill Festival (North Carolina). We then find him playing in parties and clubs in Atlanta (Willie's, Northside Tavern...) Frank Edwards performs songs that are often captivating with their comments on the human condition. His strangled and restrained voice is moving and deep. He accompanies himself simultaneously on guitar and harmonica, with striking sound contrasts. Emblematic of the Atlanta blues scene of the 70s and later, Mr. Frank (as he was nicknamed) was a fabulous songwriter and terrific musician. Surely, his sparse discography is to be sought.

Like quite a few country blues performers, Frank Edwards could not be said to have consistent gigging and recording opportunities during his nearly 80 years in the music business. His recording career began in the early '40s on the Okeh label, resulting in a small number of sides that nonetheless seem to have had some kind of impact, even catching the attention of a large New York City booking agency that normally promoted more "uptown" types of entertainment, such as dance orchestras or radio performers. In the mid- '40s, the Taps Agency was attempting to create enough interest in Edwards to lure him back to the big city from Atlanta, an event that unfortunately never took place. As it turned out, Edwards would not release recordings again for decades. In the late '40s, producer Fred Mendelsohn of the Regal label cut several tracks with Edwards in Atlanta, but this material was not released commercially until the '60s. The Trix label finally put out a full album of Edwards in 1972 entitled Done Some Travelin', and it is considered a masterpiece.

Edwards' professional life also follows the pattern of country blues artists who headed north from Mississippi circa the second World War. His traveling partner at the time was fellow bluesman Tommy McClennan. Edwards recorded for Okeh producer Frank Melrose in 1941, eight sides in which the backup was provided by Robert Brown, also known as Washboard Sam. The release of these sides was unfortunately impacted by the outbreak of the war and the resulting recording ban, although several of the songs did come out. Following this venture, Edwards headed back south, choosing Atlanta and apparently staying put there.

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The Chicken Raid, An Annual Festival Celebrating The Life Of Georgia Music Legend Frank Edwards

The Chicken Raid, An Annual Festival Celebrating The Life Of Georgia Music Legend Frank Edwards

Source: 9th Floor Music

The Chicken Raid is an authentic blues and soul experience at the venerable Northside Tavern in Atlanta Georgia, and features over 40 local, regional, and national artists performing over two days in celebration of the life of blues legend Mr. Frank Edwards (1909-2002). The Chicken Raid will be held on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March, 2014. Veteran blues artists taking part include the incredible Beverly “Guitar” Watkins, Albert White (Piano Red, Joe Tex, The Tams), R&B and soul artist Roy Lee ...

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Festival

The Chicken Raid 2012 Music Festival

The Chicken Raid 2012 Music Festival

Source: 9th Floor Music

The Chicken Raid is an annual music festival held at the NORTHSIDE TAVERN to honor the late beloved Atlanta bluesman Mr. Frank Edwards (1909-2002). This year the festival will be held on Saturday March 24 and Sunday March 25. The Chicken Raid offers a range of local, regional, and national talents. Proceeds from this year's festival will be shared between the Edwards' estate and Carlos Capote's medical costs. Capote, front man for Atlanta blues band Breeze Kings recently underwent a ...

Tampa Red
guitar, slide
Reverend Gary Davis
guitar, acoustic
Tommy McClennan
guitar, acoustic
Washboard Sam
percussion

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