ArtistInfo

Frank Necessary

bj, voc, 1935-2011
Country

Born December 20, 1935 in Boone's Camp, Kentucky. Died December 15, 2011 in Ruckersville, Virginia. One of the first generation banjo players and a Don Reno stylist. In the mid-1960s, he was in the Baltimore / Washington area working in a variety of bands including those of Buzz Busby and Patsy Stoneman. From 1966-1968, Necessary played mostly with a band called the Spruce Mountain Boys led by the high lonesome vocalist from White Top, Virginia, named Al Jones. This group cut a pair of singles on Rebel. In 1968, Frank moved to Ashland, Ohio, where he joined forces with the Stone Mountain Boys. During their years together, Frank and the boys recorded respective albums for Cabut, Arby and Old Homestead. They had an additional single on Cabut and reportedly cut sufficient material for an album on Jalyn, although some singles were never released. In 1974, Frank Necessary returned to the Baltimore / Washington area, where he and Al Jones became co-leaders of the Spruce Mountain Boys. They played clubs and some festivals in the region. He and Al Jones cut one of the best, well-produced bluegrass albums that Rounder ever released. Later Buzz Busby came into their group for a while, during which time they cut an album for Old Homestead. In their later years, they continued to work in the D.C. and surrounding areas.

Instruments

• Banjo
• Vocals

Genres

• Country
• World
• Folk

Plays With