Hillbilly-Music.com - Keeping Country Music History Alive
Hillbilly-Music Folio Display


George Wade
and Francum Braswell


About The Artist

George Wade and Francum Braswell were two cousins who made recordings for Columbia at their Johnson City, Tennessee sessions in October 1929. Wade was a native of Rowan County who later lived in Gastonia, played mandolin and worked in cotton mills. Braswell was a native of Caldwell County and played guitar and harmonica.

They recorded two numbers "Think a Little" and "When We Go A Courtin'" on October 21, 1929. The record was released in a time of economic decline, their disc sold 2,572 copies.

Wade returned to Gastonia where he formed a trio with Luke Baucom who also played mandolin and Reid Summey on guitar. They were known as the Three Tobacco Tags. As about the only two mandolin band around, their sound was unique. After a slow start they became quite successful, moving from WBT Charlotte, WPTF Raleigh, and by January 1938 to WRVA Richmond where Wade departed a few weeks later to form another group known as George Wade and the Caro-ginians. Like the Tobacco Tags, they also recorded for Bluebird (and Montgomery Ward). George died in September 1958.

When the Great Depression hit, Braswell lost his job at the textile mill, wandered about singing for a while as far west as Arkansas, but eventually settled in Georgetown, South Carolina, where he worked as a carpenter.

Braswell was working in Myrtle Beach when he died in a mobile home explosion caused by a gas leak in October 1958.

Columbia 15515-D - Think A Little - George Wade and Francum Braswell - Recorded October 21, 1929 - Johnson City, TN

Credits & Sources

Printer Friendly Version

Recordings (78rpm/45rpm)

 
Columbia
Rec. No. Side Song Title
  15515 D A Think A Little
  15515 D B When We Go A Courting


Artist Lists
                                                   


Hillbilly-Music.com

Yes, Hillbilly Music. You may perhaps wonder why. You may even snicker. But trust us, soon your feet will start tappin' and before you know it, you'll be comin' back for more...Hillbilly Music.

Hillbilly-music.com ...
It's about the people, the music, the history.