The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-03-21
"OLD FRANK JOHNSON
Further "Reminiscences of the Famous
Ebony Hued Musiclan-Recollections
of His Band In the Cape Fear Section
"Befo' de Wah"-Col. WaddeIi and
DR.. Kingsbury Become Reminiscent.

Seeing the article about ''Old Frank
Johnson's Band" written by Frank 5.
Woodson, editor Of the Newport News
Herald, and printed in the GOLD LEAF
a few weeks ago, Hon. B. F. Grady, OF
Turkey, sent it to the Wilmington
Messenger together with the following
note which explains itself:
enclose to you for publication a clip
ping which few OF US older ones have
read with unusual interest and pleasure,
and which | think hundreds of your read
ers would delight to read This account
Of Old Frank Johnson is deficient in that
it leaves out his career in the Cape Fear
section, and we-my little company OF
readers-decided to ask you to get Col.
Waddell or some other competent recon-
teur to supply the deficiency in supple
ment to Mr.. WoodsOn's account. My
wife thinks, too that Old Frank played
in Clinton after the date of his death as
here given.
Yours very truly,
b. F. GRADY.
Turkey, y. C., Feb, 26, 1901.
Acting on the suggestion of Mr..
Grady the Messenger requested Hon.
A. NJ Waddell to write his reminis-
cences of "Old Frank Johnson" which
he did. as follows:
The following article was handed to
me with the request that | would
supplement it with some Of my own
eminiscences of "OldFrankJ ohnson,"
and in complying with the request it
is difficult to say whether the dispo-
sition to laugh or to weep predomi-
mates Old Franks career was by no
means confined to the Roanoke and
Warren sections of the State. He
lived for some time in Wilmington,
and, think, died here, or very soon
after he left here. For some years
prior to 1852 he played at the com
mencement balls at the University,
when the dining room of Miss Nancy
| billiards hotel was used for the pur-
pose, and reference to this was made
| in my centennial Grafton at the Uni
versity in 1895. His band some
| times went out of the State to play
at balls and parties-one Htable
| occasion being the marriage OF a Raj
| eigh gentleman in South Carolina in
| 1857, at which |, with three or foul
other Wilmingtonians, all OF whom
are dead, otficiated as groomsmen. Old
Frank usually wore a stovepipe hat,
a stock OF the old kind instead OF a
cravat, and spiketail coat with
| brass buttons, and was very dignified
and formal, but possessed the char.
acteristic humor of his race. Moth
ing excited his enthusiasm so much
as good dancing-notw walking through
the figures Of cotillion or reel. but
that combination of agility and grace
which constituted the ideal in his
| day, and was the despair of the
| clumsy or awkward beau. The sight
Of such dancer gave now life to hi.
fddlebow, and extorted from hin
gleeiul laughter and audible expires
sons OF delight while he played. TX
call what he and his "band" extracted
from their instruments music, il
any other sense than may be applied
to any lively and stirring sound.
from fiddles and octave flutes, woulc
be to the last degree provincial now
a-days, but they could play the dance
music of their time in the rural dis
tricts better than any one else-.t
we'll indeed that it was difficult fo1
any one to keep still while it was go
ing on. His piece de resistance wa:
Clear the Track" which he and hi:
son, John, played better, l verify be
lieve, than anybody in the world. It,
effect was electrical.
Whom ordered to Chatham count,
to raise company in 1861, hire'
Old Franks band to 90 with me t.
stir up the boys, and some of thu
scenes that ensued have never bee,
Paralelled in my experience. The,
were paroxysms OF revelry, durin!
which patriotism was at fever heat
but in many cases the fever cooled of
with the cessation Of music, as wa
illustrated in ono case by a strappins
young fellow who, after dancing il
the middle OF the county road in
sort Of frenzy, excused himself 70
enlisting with the pathetic remarl
that he was as anxious as any MAJ
to fight for his country but that h
"had a powerful misery in his breas
and was badly corrupted"
| think the first time l ever hear
Old Frank was at a Sound party a
Wrightsville. Having for partne
in the dance very spirited an
pretty girl, we both capered so vigor
ously that the old fellow rose from
his seat with the fiddle still under hi
chin, and bowling, but continuing t.
play, exclaimed: Oats de thing
Please God hit minds me O. when
was young" Imagine the leader of
ballroom orchestra of the presen
day turning loose in that style, or
couple Of dancers cutting the pigeo
! wing as we did. But there can b
do doubt that we had more fun. an
, enjoyed ourselves more than tn
moderns.
Old Frank was himself a remark
ably fine dancer, and sometime.
after the ladies had retired, the voun
, men would order wine or .tronge
drink for him, and. when he becam
a little thawed. would make job
play and have an exhibition Of tn
| | old fellows skill in the art. He ws
really graceful, and as agile as a
= acrobat.
The result Of the war left him. ,
: 1t did mis- quondam patrons, stranded
e and he moved about pathetic tigul
r "A sort Of melancholy reminder {
departed joys-and he rapidly fade
e out OF life. and finally departed F.,