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Wade Mainer

Wade Eckhart Mainer (April 21, 1907 – September 12, 2011) was an American country singer and banjoist. With his band, the Sons of the Mountaineers, he is credited with bridging the gap between old-time mountain music and Bluegrass and is sometimes called the "Grandfather of Bluegrass". In addition, he innovated a two-finger banjo fingerpicking style, which was a precursor to modern three-finger bluegrass styles.

Originally from North Carolina, Mainer's main influences came from the mountain music of his family. In a career that began in 1934 and spanned almost six decades, Mainer transitioned from being a member of his brother's band into the founder of his own ensemble, the Sons of the Mountaineers, with whom he performed until 1953, when he became more deeply involved with his Christianity and left the music industry. After working at a General Motors factory and attending gospel revivals, Mainer was convinced that he should restart his career as a Christian gospel musician and began to tour with his wife in this capacity. He continued to release albums until 1993.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 21, 1907 (Buncombe County), Died September 12, 2011 (Flint)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1950

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, leader, banjo, harmonica, composer, songwriter, speaker

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BS-94328 10-in. 8/6/1935 Ship sailing now J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris String band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BS-94330 10-in. 8/6/1935 Maple on the hill J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris String band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BS-94331 10-in. 8/6/1935 Take me in the lifeboat J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris String band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BS-94333 10-in. 8/6/1935 New curly headed baby J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris String band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BS-94339 10-in. 8/6/1935 City on the hill J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Daddy John Love ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris String band, with male vocal quartet vocalist  
Victor BS-94341 10-in. 8/6/1935 Write a letter to Mother J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Daddy John Love ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris String band, with male vocal quartet vocalist  
Victor BS-94342 10-in. 8/6/1935 Lights in the valley J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Daddy John Love ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris String band, with male vocal quartet vocalist  
Victor BS-94675 10-in. 2/12/1936 Two little rosebuds Dixon Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and steel guitar songwriter  
Victor BS-94678 10-in. 2/12/1936 Not turning back Dixon Brothers Male vocal duet, with guitar and steel guitar songwriter  
Victor BS-99133 10-in. 2/14/1936 Come back to your dobie shack Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo, guitar, and harmonica instrumentalist, banjo, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor BS-99135 10-in. 2/14/1936 What would you give in exchange Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with guitar and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-99136 10-in. 2/14/1936 A leaf from the sea Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo, guitar, and harmonica instrumentalist, banjo, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor BS-99137 10-in. 2/14/1936 Brown eyes Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with guitar and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-99138 10-in. 2/15/1936 Maple on the hill Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with guitar and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-99139 10-in. 2/15/1936 Going to Georgia Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo, guitar, and harmonica instrumentalist, banjo, harmonica, vocalist  
Victor BS-99140 10-in. 2/15/1936 Nobody's darling but mine Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-99141 10-in. 2/15/1936 Mother came to get her boy from jail Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-99142 10-in. 2/15/1936 Where the red, red roses grow Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo, guitar, and harmonica vocalist  
Victor BS-102600 10-in. 6/15/1936 On a cold winter night J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-102601 10-in. 6/15/1936 John Henry was a little boy Beacham Blackweller ; J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal trio, with string band vocalist  
Victor BS-102602 10-in. 6/15/1936 The old and faded picture J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal trio, with string band vocalist  
Victor BS-102603 10-in. 6/15/1936 Take me home to the sweet sunny South J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist  
Victor BS-102604 10-in. 6/15/1936 Walk that lonesome valley J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with string band vocalist  
Victor BS-102605 10-in. 6/15/1936 Got a home in that rock J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with string band vocalist  
Victor BS-102606 10-in. 6/15/1936 Johnson's old grey mule J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal trio, with string band and talk vocalist  
Victor BS-102607 10-in. 6/15/1936 Won't be worried long J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal trio, with string band vocalist  
Victor BS-102608 10-in. 6/15/1936 Goin' down the river of Jordan J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal trio, with string band vocalist  
Victor BS-102611 10-in. 6/15/1936 Watermelon on the vine J. E. Mainer's Mountaineers ; J. E. Mainer ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal trio, with string band vocalist  
Victor BS-102612 10-in. 6/15/1936 Cradle days Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal trio, with guitar and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-102613 10-in. 6/15/1936 Gathering flowers from the hills Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with guitar and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-102614 10-in. 6/15/1936 My mother is waiting Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with guitar and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-102615 10-in. 6/15/1936 If I could hear my mother Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with guitar and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-102616 10-in. 6/15/1936 Nobody's darling on earth Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with guitar and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-102617 10-in. 6/15/1936 Shake hands with Mother Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with guitar and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-102823 10-in. 6/23/1936 That old vacant chair Dixon Brothers ; Mutt Evans Male vocal trio, with guitar and steel guitar songwriter  
Victor BS-02530 10-in. 10/12/1936 They said my Lord was a devil Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with violin, guitar, and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-02531 10-in. 10/12/1936 Won't somebody pal with me? Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris ; Homer Sherrill Male vocal trio, with violin, guitar, and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-02532 10-in. 10/12/1936 Hop along Peter Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris ; Homer Sherrill Male vocal trio, with violin, guitar, and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-02533 10-in. 10/12/1936 Just one way to the pearly gates Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris ; Homer Sherrill Male vocal trio, with violin, guitar, and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-02534 10-in. 10/12/1936 Dear Daddy, you're gone Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris ; Homer Sherrill Male vocal duet, with violin, guitar, and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-02535 10-in. 10/12/1936 Been foolin' me, baby Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris ; Homer Sherrill Male vocal trio, with violin, guitar, and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-02536 10-in. 10/12/1936 I'll be a friend of Jesus Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris ; Homer Sherrill Male vocal trio, with violin, guitar, and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-02537 10-in. 10/12/1936 Cowboy's pony in heaven Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with violin, guitar, and banjo instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-02548 10-in. 10/12/1936 The good southern soda Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris ; Homer Sherrill Male vocal trio, with 2 guitars and violin vocalist  
Victor BS-07051 10-in. 2/16/1937 Little Birdie Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-07052 10-in. 2/16/1937 Always been a rambler Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-07053 10-in. 2/16/1937 Starting life anew with you Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-07054 10-in. 2/16/1937 Little rosebuds Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-07055 10-in. 2/16/1937 Train carry my girl back home Wade Mainer Male vocal solo, with guitar vocalist  
Victor BS-07057 10-in. 2/16/1937 A change all around Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-07058 10-in. 2/16/1937 Short life and its trouble Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-011812 10-in. 8/2/1937 Dying boy's prayer Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-011813 10-in. 8/2/1937 Free again Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-011814 10-in. 8/2/1937 Answer to Two little rosebuds Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-011815 10-in. 8/2/1937 I'm not turning backward Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with banjo and guitar instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-011816 10-in. 8/3/1937 What are you going to do, brother Little Smilin' Rangers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal duet, with string band leader, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-011817 10-in. 8/3/1937 Companions draw nigh Little Smilin' Rangers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal duet, with string band leader, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-011818 10-in. 8/3/1937 Mountain sweetheart Little Smilin' Rangers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal duet, with string band leader, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-011819 10-in. 8/3/1937 Don't forget me, little darling Little Smilin' Rangers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal duet, with guitar and mandolin leader, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-011820 10-in. 8/2/1937 Riding on that Train Forty-five Steve Ledford ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal solo, with string band and talk instrumentalist, banjo, speaker  
Victor BS-011821 10-in. 8/2/1937 Little Maggie Steve Ledford ; Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal trio, with string band instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-011822 10-in. 8/2/1937 Little pal Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-011823 10-in. 8/2/1937 Down in the willow Wade Mainer ; Zeke Morris Male vocal duet, with string band instrumentalist, banjo, vocalist  
Victor BS-011825 10-in. 8/2/1937 Ramshackle shack Little Smilin' Rangers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal duet, with string band and harmonica instrumentalist, harmonica, banjo, vocalist, leader  
Victor BS-011826 10-in. 8/2/1937 Memory Lane Little Smilin' Rangers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo, leader  
Victor BS-011827 10-in. 8/2/1937 Wild Bill Jones Little Smilin' Rangers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal solo, with banjo and 2 guitars vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo, leader  
Victor BS-011828 10-in. 8/2/1937 I want to be loved Little Smilin' Rangers ; Wade Mainer Male vocal duet, with banjo and 2 guitars vocalist, instrumentalist, banjo, leader  
Victor BS-018763 10-in. 1/27/1938 Lonely tomb Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Male vocal duet, with string band leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-018764 10-in. 1/27/1938 Pale moonlight Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Male vocal duet, with string band leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-018765 10-in. 1/27/1938 All my friends Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Male vocal solo, with string band leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-018766 10-in. 1/27/1938 Since I met my mother-in-law Steve Ledford ; The Mountaineers Male vocal solo, with string band leader, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-018767 10-in. 1/27/1938 Don't get too deep in love Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-018768 10-in. 1/27/1938 Don't leave me alone Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Male vocal duet, with string band leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-018769 10-in. 1/27/1938 I won't be worried Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Male vocal duet, with string band leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-018770 10-in. 1/27/1938 Where romance calls Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Female vocal solo and yodeling, with violin and guitar leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-018771 10-in. 1/27/1938 Another Alabama camp meetin' Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Male vocal solo, with banjo and dialogue leader, instrumentalist, banjo, speaker, vocalist  
Victor BS-018772 10-in. 1/27/1938 Mitchell blues Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers String band leader, instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-018779 10-in. 1/27/1938 Bachelor blues Steve Ledford ; The Mountaineers Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-018780 10-in. 1/27/1938 Only a broken heart Steve Ledford ; The Mountaineers Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-018781 10-in. 1/27/1938 Happy or lonesome Steve Ledford ; The Mountaineers Male vocal solo, with instrumental trio instrumentalist, banjo  
Victor BS-026981 10-in. 9/26/1938 Farther along Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-026982 10-in. 9/26/1938 Dear loving Mother and Dad Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-026983 10-in. 9/26/1938 Can't tell about these women Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-026984 10-in. 9/26/1938 That kind Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-026985 10-in. 9/26/1938 If I had listened to mother Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-026986 10-in. 9/26/1938 She is spreading her wings for a journey Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-026987 10-in. 9/26/1938 The same old you to me Blue Ridge Buddies Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-026988 10-in. 9/26/1938 Life's ev'nin' sun Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-026997 10-in. 9/26/1938 Mother still prays for you, Jack Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-026998 10-in. 9/26/1938 You're awfully mean to me Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-026999 10-in. 9/26/1938 Home in the sky Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-027700 10-in. 9/26/1938 A little love Blue Ridge Buddies Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-027701 10-in. 9/26/1938 North Carolina moon Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-027702 10-in. 9/26/1938 More good women gone wrong Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-032625 10-in. 2/4/1939 Sparkling blue eyes Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-032626 10-in. 2/4/1939 We will miss him Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-032627 10-in. 2/4/1939 I left my home in the mountains Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-032628 10-in. 2/4/1939 I met her at a ball one night Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-032629 10-in. 2/4/1939 You may forsake me Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-032630 10-in. 2/4/1939 Look on and cry Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-032631 10-in. 2/4/1939 One little kiss Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble, with yodeling leader  
Victor BS-032632 10-in. 2/4/1939 Mama, don't make me go to bed Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-032633 10-in. 2/4/1939 Crying holy Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-032634 10-in. 2/4/1939 Heaven bells are ringing Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-041200 10-in. 8/21/1939 Sparkling blue eyes no. 2 Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-041201 10-in. 8/21/1939 The poor drunkard's dream Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-041202 10-in. 8/21/1939 Were you there? Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-041203 10-in. 8/21/1939 The gospel cannon ball Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-041204 10-in. 8/21/1939 The great and final judgment Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-041205 10-in. 8/21/1939 What a wonderful Saviour is He Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-041206 10-in. 8/21/1939 Why not make heaven your home Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-041207 10-in. 8/21/1939 Mansions in the sky Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-041208 10-in. 8/21/1939 Not a word of that be said Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-041209 10-in. 8/21/1939 Drifting through an unfriendly world Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers Vocal and instrumental ensemble leader  
Victor BS-071014 10-in. 9/29/1941 Shake my mother's hand for me Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers String band, with vocal leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-071015 10-in. 9/29/1941 Anywhere is home Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers String band, with vocal leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-071016 10-in. 9/29/1941 I can tell you the time Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers String band, with vocal leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-071017 10-in. 9/29/1941 He gave his life Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers String band, with vocal composer, leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-071018 10-in. 9/29/1941 Ramblin' boy Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers String band, with vocal composer, leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-071019 10-in. 9/29/1941 The precious jewel Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers String band, with vocal leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-071020 10-in. 9/29/1941 Old Ruben Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers String band, with vocal composer, leader, vocalist  
Victor BS-071021 10-in. 9/29/1941 Precious memories Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers String band, with vocal leader, vocalist  
Victor E0VB-5190 10-in. 7/24/1950 Empty tomb Jack Holden ; Frances Kay Female-male vocal duet, with string band composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mainer, Wade," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104228.

Mainer, Wade. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104228.

"Mainer, Wade." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/104228

External Sources

Wikipedia: Wade Mainer

Discogs: Wade Mainer

Grove: Wade Mainer

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Mainer, Wade, 1907-2011 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n83070023

Wikidata: Wade Mainer - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1853357

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/75225991

MusicBrainz: Wade Mainer - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/2fa8f23f-e052-4330-b1ea-9753e83e10b4

FAST: http://id.worldcat.org/fast/1773497

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