Frank Solivan is an American mandolinist, recording artist, composer, and leader of the progressive bluegrass band Dirty Kitchen.

Biography

Early life

Solivan grew up near

Modesto, California Modesto () is the county seat and largest city of Stanislaus County, California, United States. With a population of 218,464 at the 2020 census, it is the 19th largest city in the state of California and forms part of the Sacramento-Stockton- ...

. His grandmother on his father’s side played mandolin and fiddle, and his father plays the banjo, guitar, bass, and mandolin. His mother’s side of the family included classical violin and cello players. He fell in love with bluegrass music at an early age. Solivan formed his first band, Generation Gap in the late 1980s. They once opened for

Ralph Stanley Ralph Edmund Stanley (February 25, 1927 – June 23, 2016) was an American bluegrass artist, known for his distinctive singing and banjo playing. Stanley began playing music in 1946, originally with his older brother Carter Stanley as part of ...

at a California show. In 1995, at age 18, Solivan moved to Alaska where he sat first chair violin in the University of Alaska’s Symphony Orchestra. and played mandolin in his friend Ginger Boatwright's band. In 2002, Solivan recorded his first solo album ''I Am a Rambler'' when he temporarily moved to Nashville from Alaska to pursue musical goals. He was assisted by friends such as

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Rob Ickes Rob Ickes hymes with "bikes"is an American dobro (resonator guitar) player, born 1967 in San Francisco, California, United States. Ickes moved to Nashville in 1992 and joined the contemporary bluegrass band Blue Highway as a founding member in ...

, and Shad Cobb.

Country Current

In 2003, Solivan auditioned and was offered the electric guitar position in the

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

, service band Country Current. He played electric guitar in their country band and mandolin and fiddle in their bluegrass band for six years. In 2006, while in the Navy playing with Country Current, Solivan recorded and released a solo album ''Selfish Tears.''

Dirty Kitchen

After the Navy, Solivan decided to form his own band. Besides Solivan (mandolin), the current lineup of Dirty Kitchen includes Mike Munford (banjo), Chris Luquette (guitar), and Jeremy Middleton (bass). The band name is a reference to the gourmet meals Solivan prepares for friends and family (and the title of one of Solivan's instrumental songs). Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen have released four studio albums: ''Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen'' in 2010, ''On the Edge'' in 2013 (after signing with

Compass Records Compass Records is an independent record label founded in 1995 by musicians Garry West and Alison Brown that specializes in folk music, folk, bluegrass music, bluegrass, Celtic music, Celtic, jazz, and acoustic music. In 2006, Compass purchased t ...

), and ''Cold Spell'' in 2014. and ''If You Can't Stand the Heat'' (2019).

''Family, Friends & Heroes''

Solivan's third solo project ''Family, Friends & Heroes'' was released in 2016, and features members of Dirty Kitchen, family members, and John Cowan, Shawn Camp,

Jerry Douglas Gerald Calvin "Jerry" Douglas (born May 28, 1956) is an American Dobro and lap steel guitar player and record producer. Career In addition to his fourteen solo recordings, Douglas has played on more than 1,600 albums. As a sideman, he h ...

Sam Bush Charles Samuel Bush (born April 13, 1952) is an American mandolinist who is considered an originator of progressive bluegrass music. In 2020, he was inducted into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame as a member of New Grass Reviva ...

Jim Hurst Jim Hurst is an American bluegrass and country guitarist. He is known primarily as an instrumentalist but has also been credited for vocals with numerous other artists as well as his solo career. Hurst has performed with musicians that include ...

, Megan McCormick,

, and

Del McCoury Delano Floyd McCoury (born February 1, 1939) is an American bluegrass musician. As leader of the Del McCoury Band, he plays guitar and sings lead vocals along with his two sons, Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury, who play mandolin and banjo resp ...

. On " Wayfaring Stranger," Solivan’s mother Lorene (now deceased) sings lead vocals.

Other projects

Solivan has toured with The Earls of Leicester when Tim O'Brien had conflicting commitments. Solivan built his primary mandolin from scratch at a workshop under the tutelage of luthier Roger Siminoff.

Awards

In 2014, The album ''Cold Spell'' by Frank & Dirty Kitchen was nominated for a

Grammy award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

in the Bluegrass Album category. In 2013, Mike Munford was voted Banjo Player of the Year by the IBMA, and guitarist Chris Luquette received the Momentum Award for Performance Instrumentalist. In 2014 Dirty Kitchen received four IBMA award recognitions: * Frank Solivan was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year and Mandolin Player of the Year * Mike Munford was nominated for Banjo Player of the Year * Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen won Instrumental Group of the Year award In 2016, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen were again the IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year. In 2019, The album ''If You Can't Stand The Heat'' by Frank & Dirty Kitchen was nominated for a

in the Bluegrass Album category. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen , Artist , www.grammy.com
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Discography

Solo albums

* 2002: ''I am a Rambler'' (Fiddlemon) as Frank Solivan II * 2006: ''Selfish Tears'' (Fiddlemon) as Frank Solivan II * 2016: ''Family, Friends & Heroes'' (

Compass A compass is a device that shows the cardinal directions used for navigation and geographic orientation. It commonly consists of a magnetized needle or other element, such as a compass card or compass rose, which can pivot to align itself with ...

)

As a member of Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen

* 2010: ''Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen'' (Fiddlemon) * 2013: ''On The Edge'' (Compass) * 2014: ''Cold Spell'' (Compass) * 2019: ''If You Can't Stand the Heat'' (Compass)

Also appears on

* 2005: Gordon_Titcomb

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