Frank Lawes (1894 – 1970) was an
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
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Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
banjo composer and performer from
Acton,
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
. He composed a large number of well known banjo pieces which are still part of the standard repertoire and much recorded. He was unusual in playing a plectrum banjo finger style. His second wife Alice played the
accordion. He died in
Ifold, West Sussex, and was buried with his favourite banjo.
His son Jim is an amateur harmonia player and his granddaughter
Alison Hustwitt is a singer songwriter although her instrument is the guitar.
He is the great grandfather of motoring author
Jon Lawes.
Pieces Composed
The pieces he is believed to have composed currently stands at:
* "Syncopatin' Shuffle"
* "Hot Frets"
* "Pandemonium Rag" (December 1966)
* "Rubbin' Shoulders"
* "Good Old Twenties" (July 1966)
* "Twinkle In Your Eye" (December 1965)
* "Clap Trap" (June 1960)
* "Cute and Catchy"
* "Fretboard Frolic"
"Cute and Catchy" was originally to be named "Dinkie", a nickname given to his daughter, according to handwritten notes discovered on some of his music.
References
1894 births
1970 deaths
English banjoists
20th-century English composers
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