In the 1930s, North Carolina was a hotbed of early Country musicians, and Wade Mainer stood out above the rest. With his singing and precise two-finger banjo style, Wade and his band created a distinct sound that bridged the gap between old-time mountain music and Bluegrass.

Wade Mainer has received many honors and awards during his more than 60-year career in music, including the National Heritage Fellowshipfrom the National Endowment for the Arts, in 1987; the Michigan Heritage Award and the Michigan Country Music Association and Services' Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996; and North Carolina’s Surry Arts Council Lifetime Achievement in 1998. The Mainers were also inducted into the Michigan Country Music Hall of Famein 1998.

Watch both Wade and Julia Mainer in action during Folkways: Wayne Mainer and enjoy the sweet music made by the man known as the “Grandfather of Bluegrass.”