b. March 20th, 1909 in Washington (Georgia)

d. March 22th, 2002 in Greenville (South Carolina)

COUNTRY BLUES COLLECTOR'S ITEMS

Document

May 1941

Né en Georgie, il part vivre - après une dispute familiale - à Saint Augustine en Floride. Il passe environ une vingtaine d'années là-bas rencontrant notamment Tampa Red vers 1926 qui le décidera à persévérer en tant que guitariste de blues. Un peu plus tard, revenu en Georgie, Frank s'intègre au Star Band pour lequel il joue guitare, harmonica et parfois même washboard et violon. En 1941, il fait la rencontre déterminante de Tommy Mac Clennan à Yazoo City. Frank accompagné Mac Clennan qui doit enregistrer à Chicago. A cette occasion, le producteur Lester Melrose permettra à Frank de graver ses quatre premiers titres pour Okeh : "We got to get together", "Sweet man blues", "Three woman blues", "Terraplane blues". Sur ceux-ci, il est accompagné par Washboard Sam.

Born in Georgia, he moved - after a family dispute - to Saint Augustine, Florida. He spends about twenty years there meeting notably Tampa Red around 1926 who decide him to persevere as a blues guitarist. Later, back in Georgia, Frank joins the Star Band for which he plays guitar, harmonica and even sometimes washboard and fiddle. In 1941, he made the decisive encounter of Tommy Mac Clennan in Yazoo City. Frank accompanied Mac Clennan in Chicago to record. On this occasion, the producer Lester Melrose allow Frank to cut his first four titles for Okeh : "We got to get together", "Sweet man blues", "Three woman blues", "Terraplane blues". On those titles, he is accompanied by Washboard Sam.

LIVING WITH THE BLUES

Savoy

Realm

CBS

Musidisc

SUGAR MAMA BLUES

Biograph

August 1949

Alors qu'il n'est pas resté inactif sur la scène d'Atlanta, Frank n'enregistre plus rien jusqu'en 1949. Avec ses collègues Blind Willie Mac Tell, Curley Weaver, Buddy Moss, il anime les juke-joints, les fêtes locales, participe à certains medicine-shows. Mais, c'est Curley Weaver qui permettra à Frank de graver pour le label Regal de Fred Mendelsohn : "Love my baby", "Gotta get a gettin'". Ces titres resteront longtemps inédits et il faudra attendre 1962 pour qu'un premier LP réédite un des titres.

While he has not been idle on the Atlanta scene, Frank does not record anything more until 1949. With his fellows Blind Willie Mac Tell, Curley Weaver, Buddy Moss, he played in juke joints, local festivals, participates in some medicine shows. But, it is Curley Weaver that will allow Frank to record for Fred Mendelsohn's Regal label : "Love my baby", "Gotta get to gettin'". These titles will remain unissued a long time and it was not until 1962 that a first LP reissues one of the titles.

DONE SOME TRAVELIN'

Trix

GEORGIA BLUES

Wolf

GEORGIA COUNTRY BLUES

Wolf

September - December 1972

A l'été 1971, Pete Lowry réussit à localiser Frank et lui propose de réaliser un disque complet. Il l'entoure pour certains morceaux de Steve Carson (guitare) et Popcorn (alias Arthur Clover) au washboard. Carson propose d'ailleurs un accompagnement subtil et plein de feeling. L'ensemble de la set-list est remarquable : "Throw your time away", "Goin' back and get her", "Mean old Frisco", "I know he shed the blood", "Chicken raid", "Mini dress wearer", "Love my baby". Plutôt méconnu, il s'agit pourtant d'un album de premier plan qui mériterait d'être redécouvert.

In the summer of 1971, Pete Lowry succeed to locate Frank and asked him to make a complete album. He surrounds him for some tracks with Steve Carson (guitar) and Popcorn (aka Arthur Clover) on washboard. Carson also provides a subtle and full of feeling accompaniment. The entire set list is remarkable : "Throw your time away", "Goin' back and get her", "Mean old Frisco", "I know he shed the blood", "Chicken raid", "Mini dress wearer", "Love my baby". Rather unknown, it is however a first-rate album that deserves to be rediscovered.

BLUES COME TO CHAPEL HILL

Flyright

March 1973

Ces trois superbes titres ("Chicken raid", "Love my baby", "Throw'd your time away") ont été captés sur la scène de l'Université de Caroline du Nord lors d'un festival. Pour l'occasion, Frank est accompagné par le bassiste Billy Troiani.

These three great songs ("Chicken raid", "Love my baby", "Throw'd your time away") were picked up at the University of North Carolina during a festival. For the occasion, Frank is accompanied by bassist Billy Troiani.

NATIONAL DOWNHOME BLUES FESTIVAL (LP vol.2 / CD vol.1)

Southland

October 1984

Frank Edwards participa au National Downhome Blues Festival organisé par George Mitchell en 1984. Dans ce recueil, il est représenté par son titre fétiche "Chicken raid".

Frank Edwards participates in the National Downhome Blues Festival organized by George Mitchell in 1984. In this collection, he is represented by his favorite song "Chicken raid".

CHICKEN RAID

Music Maker

June 1996 - March 2002

Pour la Music Maker Relief Foundation de Tim Duffy, Frank participe à plusieurs séances seul ou avec quelques amis musiciens (Mudcat, Janet Daniel, "Cool" John Ferguson). Un disque plutôt varié avec d'excellents morceaux comme "Chicken raid", "Evil woman", "Gone with another woman", "My baby's gone". La dernière séance a été capturée quelques heures avant sa mort. Pour information, ce CD reprend aussi ses 4 morceaux de 1941 pour Okeh.

For the Music Maker Relief Foundation of Tim Duffy, Frank participated in several sessions alone or with some friends musicians (Mudcat, Janet Daniel, "Cool" John Ferguson). A rather varied album with excellent songs like "Chicken raid", "Evil woman", "Gone with another woman", "My baby's gone". The final session was captured a few hours before his death. For information, this CD also contains the 4 songs cut in 1941 for Okeh.