Wade Mainer Passes

This week’s New York Times reports that Wade Mainer, a legendary pioneer of bluegrass, and a member of the bluegrass hall of fame, a singer and banjo player passed away at the age of 104. He was one of the last survivors of ‘hillbilly’ music’s radio heyday of the 1930s.

Originally from North Carolina, Wade Mainer’s was influenced by mountain music of his family. His musical career began in 1934 and spanned almost 60 years. He went from being a member of his brother’s band into the founder of his own group, The Sons of the Mountaineers, with whom he performed until 1953. As 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.

Wade Mainer was a singer and banjo player whose clean, emphatic style and devotion to old-time mountain songs made him a pivotal figure in the transition to bluegrass music, died on Monday at his home in Flint, Mich. Mr. Mainer, who once performed at the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was 104. whose clean, emphatic style and devotion to old-time mountain songs made him a pivotal figure in the transition to bluegrass music, died on Monday at his home in Flint, Mich. Mr. Mainer, who once performed at the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, was 104 – New York Times.

Read the full story on the New York Times Website.

Here’s another tribute from the UK Telegraph Website.