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 (Results 26-50 of 123 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
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

(Results 26-50 of 123 records)

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.