Wade Mainer

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
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	speaker, instrumentalist, banjo
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	vocalist, leader
Victor	BS-018764	10-in.	1/27/1938	Pale moonlight	Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers	Male vocal duet, with string band	vocalist, leader
Victor	BS-018765	10-in.	1/27/1938	All my friends	Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers	Male vocal solo, with string band	vocalist, leader
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	vocalist, leader
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	vocalist, leader
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	vocalist, leader
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	vocalist, leader, instrumentalist, banjo, speaker
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	vocalist, leader
Victor	BS-071015	10-in.	9/29/1941	Anywhere is home	Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers	String band, with vocal	vocalist, leader
Victor	BS-071016	10-in.	9/29/1941	I can tell you the time	Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers	String band, with vocal	vocalist, leader
Victor	BS-071017	10-in.	9/29/1941	He gave his life	Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers	String band, with vocal	vocalist, leader, composer
Victor	BS-071018	10-in.	9/29/1941	Ramblin' boy	Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers	String band, with vocal	vocalist, leader, composer
Victor	BS-071019	10-in.	9/29/1941	The precious jewel	Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers	String band, with vocal	vocalist, leader
Victor	BS-071020	10-in.	9/29/1941	Old Ruben	Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers	String band, with vocal	vocalist, leader, composer
Victor	BS-071021	10-in.	9/29/1941	Precious memories	Wade Mainer ; Sons of the Mountaineers	String band, with vocal	vocalist, leader
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 November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104228.

Mainer, Wade. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/104228.

"Mainer, Wade." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.