Frank Proffitt

Frank Noah Proffitt (June 1, 1913 – November 24, 1965) was an Appalachian Old-time banjo player and ballad singer known for his role in the preservation and popularization of the folk song "Tom Dooley." He contributed to the documentation of traditional Appalachian music through his work with several folk collectors, and his repertoire and recordings played an influential role in the mid-20th-century American folk revival.

Proffitt grew up in a musical family, learning ballads and tunes from his parents as well as from his aunts and uncles. His father, a Civil War veteran, was a luthier who built banjos and dulcimers. Frank learned the craft from him and continued making instruments into adulthood, following his father's patterns. Proffitt married Bessie Hicks, with whom he had six children. Their hit recording is widely credited with helping spark the American folk music revival. Proffitt performed at the 1963 Newport Folk Festival. and the 1964 New York World's Fair, recording several more tracks released on the compilation album High Atmosphere: Ballads and Banjo Tunes from Virginia and North Carolina. Frank Proffitt of Reese NC, Folk-Legacy Records Frank Proffitt Memorial Album, Folk Legacy High Atmosphere: Ballads and Banjo Tunes from Virginia and North Carolina, Rounder Records