Frank Proffitt
Frank Proffitt (June 1, 1913 – November 24, 1965) was an Appalachian old ti… Read Full Bio ↴Frank Proffitt (June 1, 1913 – November 24, 1965) was an Appalachian old time banjoist and performer at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival. He was a key figure in inspiring musicians of the 1960s and 1970s to play the banjo. He recorded the ballad "Tom Dooley" for Alan Lomax on one of his (Lomax's) song collecting trips.
Frank was born in Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee and was raised in the Reese area of North Carolina where he worked in a variety of jobs and lived on a farm with his wife and six children. He grew tobacco, worked as a carpenter and in a spark plug factory. He was known for his carpentry skill, Proffitt's fretless banjos and dulcimers were homemade.
In 1937, Frank Proffitt met Frank Warner. Warner was searching out a dulcimer builder and thus began a 30 year friendship and song swapping. The Kingston Trio attributes their recording of Tom Dooley to a recording Frank Warner made of the ballad that he learned from Proffitt.
Frank was born in Laurel Bloomery, Tennessee and was raised in the Reese area of North Carolina where he worked in a variety of jobs and lived on a farm with his wife and six children. He grew tobacco, worked as a carpenter and in a spark plug factory. He was known for his carpentry skill, Proffitt's fretless banjos and dulcimers were homemade.
In 1937, Frank Proffitt met Frank Warner. Warner was searching out a dulcimer builder and thus began a 30 year friendship and song swapping. The Kingston Trio attributes their recording of Tom Dooley to a recording Frank Warner made of the ballad that he learned from Proffitt.
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Frank Proffitt Lyrics
Beaver Dam Road I didn't have no hog to kill I went and put…
Bo Lamkin Bo Lamkin was as fine a mason as ever laid a…
Cindy I went upon the mountain I 'lowed I'd have some fun, Waited…
George Collins George Collins rode home one cold winter night George Collin…
Going Across the Mountain Goin' across the mountain, oh fair ye well Goin' across the…
Julie Jenkins You can′t wear red my own true love You can't wear…
Ninety and Nine There were ninety and nine That safely lay in the shelter…
Poor Man I worked all the wintertime I worked through the spring I pl…
Poor Soldier All out in the snow, they are tonight Far away from…
Ruben Train Oh, Reuben′s coming down the track And he's got his throttle…
Rye Whiskey On top of yan' mountain, I wandered alone Drunk as the…
Song of a Lost Hunter Pitch black was the night, as black as could be Lost…
Tom Dooley Hang your head, Tom Dooley, Hang your head and cry You kille…