The following is the Introduction by Lanny Fiel to ‘Cowboy Fiddler in Bob Wills’ Band’ – By Frankie McWhorter – As told by John R. Erickson – University of North Texas Press. “Frankie’s personal story as told by John is the ultimate way to know a legend and it highly recommend the reader find a copy of the book. For now though, comments below will do for a short biographical sketch.”
“Frankie McWhorter’s fiddling first came to my attention one afternoon around 1990 on a stretch of West Texas highway between Levelland and Lubbock. I had the car stereo cranked Up while I listened to a cassette titled simply “Fiddle Tunes Bob Wills Taught Me with Frankie McWhorter on Fiddle.” It had been recorded and passed on to me by folks with the country music program at South Plains College.
“Wait till you hear this guy,” they had bragged.
“And rightly so. As an aspiring fiddle player, I had never heard anything quite like Frankie’s playing. Although the numbers were just basic tunes with minimal accompaniment, his performance captured the essence of a full-blown Western Swing band. More than that, his feel for the music echoed the frontier fiddle sound that had spawned the Wills phenomenon.
“Normally, with a strong tail wind and a semi to run interference, my trip would have lasted most of one side of a cassette. Although favorable conditions prevailed, Frankie’s music that day slowed down this modernized Texan. By the time I reached my destination, both sides of the cassette had played, and side one had started over again. Frankie McWhorter’s fiddle clearly spoke from simpler times when enjoying the journey itself meant more than getting there quickly.
“Inspired, I tried my hand on a couple of the tunes. From this perspective, it quickly became apparent that Frankie possessed a more than common knowledge of fiddle music. His emphasis of a single note or simple twist of phrase completely transformed even the most ordinary tunes. Wanting to know more than the tape revealed, I took a notion to seek out the master himself. By word of mouth, I found John Erickson way up yonder in the northern Texas Panhandle. Not only had he instigated the recording at South Plains College that I’d been listening to, but he had also been diligently writing down Frankie’s memoirs as a horse trainer and cowboy fiddler. John’s willingness to put me in touch with Frankie went beyond polite hospitality. My mention of a desire to learn tunes from the source soon resulted in John personally escorting me through the rolling hills of the Panhandle to the ranch where Frankie worked as foreman.
“I had never witnessed anyone play fiddle and move in four directions simultaneously until that afternoon in Frankie’s living room. He moved in marionette fashion with sudden and sometimes jerky motions, as though directed by an outside force. In this instance, though, there were no strings attached. Frankie’s movements came from a genuine reaction to the music. No pretense.
“By late evening, he had been telling stories and playing fiddle continuously since our afternoon arrival and showed no signs of letting up. Not that I would have had it any other way, but by two and then three and then four A.M., Frankie had just gotten around to tunes in B-flat and had several more keys to go. John Erickson had not only introduced me to an honest-to- goodness cowboy fiddle player, he had also led me to a natural reservoir of Texas music history. Embarrassed, overwhelmed, and unable to keep up, I drifted off one too many times before crawling to the guest room with Frankie still sawing away.
“When am I gonna learn?” I muttered, somewhat put out with myself as I drove home early the next morning. Anxious over the long drive ahead with having had little sleep the night before, I questioned the value of enduring such an ordeal just to learn a few simple fiddle tunes. Such misgivings, though, served only to cover up a greater apprehension and the true source of my discomfort. Underneath, I realized where my interest had led. Having met Frankie, I now knew much more would be required of me to learn these tunes than the loss of one night’s sleep. This music represented a life’s work. Frankie McWhorter served as caretaker to a great tradition. Coming to know Frankie and this legacy would indeed slow this city boy down to a pace more suited to days when folks learned directly from one another rather than from the TV, a time-consuming process rather scary to the uninitiated.
“Since then, I have pulled my share of all-nighters listening to Frankie and learning tunes in local motel room jam sessions or on his front porch. I have even developed the stamina to hang in there on occasion until sunrise, though I have a ways to go before I can play fiddle all night and then go to work first thing the next morning. More importantly, I have come to truly appreciate John Erickson’s taking time to preserve the lore of this cowboy fiddler and encourage me to learn from Frankie. For me, the experience in some ways has been a detour from the fast pace of modern life back to the true heritage of my homeland. A journey well worth taking, no matter how late the hour.
“Frankie McWhorter possesses a knowledge and a wisdom that are rare links to the past. With mentors like Boyd Rogers (b. 1895), Eck Robertson (b. 1897), and Bob Wills (b. 1905), he is a storehouse of tunes and tales spanning two centuries. This legacy came into Frankie’s possession through a reverence and dedication to the music, the tradition, and the way of life it represents. My good fortune has been to catch a glimpse of this living heritage in fleeting draws of the bow and recollections of how it was. On such occasions, I have felt purposeful and grounded to the land.
“John Erickson has ensured this privilege for others. Obviously, his work with Frankie is historically significant. Of even greater import, though, is the pioneer spirit this work represents as an essential landmark to those entering the twenty-first century. To have these fading memories brought to life so vividly is good fortune indeed. In today’s world, not many have the inclination to pursue a life’s work so completely from the heart as Frankie McWhorter has done. It is best to stop and take notice when someone like Frankie comes along.
Lanny Fiel
Lubbock, Texas, 1997
