Bluegrass Moms Archives - Bluegrass Today

Thanks to our pal Casey Henry for this photo of Bluegrass Mom, Rebecca Frazier (nee Hoggan) and her young son, Jack. Now 18 moths old, Jack was only 10 weeks when this shot was taken in June, 2009.

Though pictured here with a mandolin, Rebecca is known primarily as a guitarist, a role she filled for several years with young Colorado grassers Hit & Run. She is a notably strong player – both on rhythm and lead guitar – providing a powerful antidote to the “plays like a girl” stereotype.

When she and Hit & Run mandolinist John Frazier wed, moved to Nashville, and produced young Master Frazier, Rebecca moved into mom mode, where she obviously excels. A second child is expected in April 2011.

Rebecca also sent along a number of other photos of Jack, showing he and mom on the road at Rockygrass, with papa John, and with banjo hero Steve Martin when dad was working in his band.

Coincidentally, John was filling in on mandolin in October 2009 with Steep Canyon Rangers (and Martin) while Mark Guiggino was with his wife as she gave birth.

Well done, Rebecca! Birthing the future of bluegrass music is important work.

Just after I posted info about the return of the Shankman Twins, a message came in from Phil Bankester, patriarch of the singing Bankester Family.

The piece about Dana and Lauren Shankman spoke of how they have returned to playing music after taking a break when their youngsters were born, and Phil’s message included a photo that touched on that same theme.

Phil manages a band that includes his wife and four daughters, the eldest of whom is now married with a infant son. In true family band style, Melissa is married to their banjo player, Kyle Triplett. Papa Bankester shared a story that goes with the picture:

“During a recent show in central Illinois, Jude (Melissa and Kyle’s baby) got fussy with the babysitter during the first set. So Melissa just strapped him on her back during the break.

He fell asleep after the first song and stayed there for the rest of the show.”

It occurred to me that in a day when more and more young women are performing bluegrass music, there must be dozens of such photos that demonstrate the epitome of a Bluegrass Mom. If you have a picture you would share that fits this theme, please contact us. We’ll post the best ones we get.

Phil also mentioned that they have just made arrangements for Robert Bowlin, noted multi-instrumentalist and former Blue Grass Boy, to produce the band’s next CD.

“Robert moved up here to Illinois from Nashville a few years ago and has become a good friend. He has agreed to produced our new CD and is working on arrangements now. Last week he completely transformed I Am the Man, Thomas based on what we were doing with it, but now it’s unlike any version of the song that’s been recorded. He is brilliant!”

No word yet on when that CD might be released.

Tag: Bluegrass Moms

Rebecca Frazier – Bluegrass Mom

Bluegrass Moms