Untitled Document

info@theharvestmen.com

(aka Jerky, Jerky Boy, The Wiz, The Wizard, Franklin Delanor, Frank-Line) was born in Southfield, Mi. in 1970. Shortly thereafter his family moved to the South Lansing/Holt area. His first musical experience was learning to play the trumpet at the age of 10. It wasn't long before he aquired an acoustic guitar and started working out parts too many Led Zeppelin songs.

In the late 80's, he also learned to play the bass. While his mainstream influences were Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, & Jimi Hendrix, Heavy Metal bands such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, and Yngwie Malmsteen were starting to creep into his collection of influences. In the late eighties he broadened his horizons and started to listen to jazz, Reggae & jam music like the Grateful Dead, Phish, & The Allman Brothers. During this impressionable period he was also introduced to contemporary acoustic fingerstylists such as Michael Hedges & Leo Kottke.

In the early 90's young Frankie learned the harmonica and was able to hone his blues chops while sitting in with his friend's classic rock/psychedelic good time blues band, 100 Proof (coincidentally this is also where he first met Hambone). Although the band didn't last long, Frank's ability to play the harp did.

As the early 90's rolled on it was Jerry Garcia from the Grateful Dead that actually opened the door to the acoustic kingdom for Frank. From Jerry Garcia's Acoustic Band led him to the amazing mandolin playing of the Dawg, David Grisman. From Grisman to Tony Rice, from Rice to Doc Watson and from Doc to the entire bluegrass-acoustic-jamming community the doors were now wide open.

Since the mid 90's acoustic music in one form or another has been the music of choice for Frank. Partly due to the fact that in it's simplest form (like bluegrass), it can still carry all the complexity of many other forms of music, yet the back beat can be heard and felt by people of all walks & ages.

After hooking up with Smokey in late 2003, they both felt that a mandolin would be a perfect complementary fit to the acoustic music that was the result of Smokey's recent works. Frank soon bought one and began to teach himself how to play it. It wasn't long before they were blending together quite well.

In December of 2004, with the heavy influence from Joe Wilson (Steppin' in it) Frank purchased a square neck dobro and started to teach himself how to play it. This seemed to be a natural fit into the style of music that The Harvestmen were starting to create.

In Feburary of 2007 Frank, again through the influence of Joe Wilson & Drew Howard, purchased a Fender Stringmaster double neck steel string guitar and began teaching himself how to integrate this into The Harvestmen's sound which was now starting to sound like old tyme country or Texas swing.

Hank's Gear

Taylor 810-BCE Limited Edition Brazilian Rosewood
Wechter/Sheerhorn 6524F
1969 Aria F Model Mandolin
Lee Oskar Harmonica’s
1958 Fender Stringmaster
Simmons 10 String Pedal Steel
1994 Fender 40th Annerversary Strat
Fender Super Six Reverb & Tweed Blues Jr. & Tweed Pro Jr.

	Frank...
	info@theharvestmen.com (aka Jerky, Jerky Boy, The Wiz, The Wizard, Franklin Delanor, Frank-Line) was born in Southfield, Mi. in 1970. Shortly thereafter his family moved to the South Lansing/Holt area. His first musical experience was learning to play the trumpet at the age of 10. It wasn't long before he aquired an acoustic guitar and started working out parts too many Led Zeppelin songs. In the late 80's, he also learned to play the bass. While his mainstream influences were Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, & Jimi Hendrix, Heavy Metal bands such as Metallica, Iron Maiden, Ozzy, and Yngwie Malmsteen were starting to creep into his collection of influences. In the late eighties he broadened his horizons and started to listen to jazz, Reggae & jam music like the Grateful Dead, Phish, & The Allman Brothers. During this impressionable period he was also introduced to contemporary acoustic fingerstylists such as Michael Hedges & Leo Kottke. In the early 90's young Frankie learned the harmonica and was able to hone his blues chops while sitting in with his friend's classic rock/psychedelic good time blues band, 100 Proof (coincidentally this is also where he first met Hambone). Although the band didn't last long, Frank's ability to play the harp did. As the early 90's rolled on it was Jerry Garcia from the Grateful Dead that actually opened the door to the acoustic kingdom for Frank. From Jerry Garcia's Acoustic Band led him to the amazing mandolin playing of the Dawg, David Grisman. From Grisman to Tony Rice, from Rice to Doc Watson and from Doc to the entire bluegrass-acoustic-jamming community the doors were now wide open. Since the mid 90's acoustic music in one form or another has been the music of choice for Frank. Partly due to the fact that in it's simplest form (like bluegrass), it can still carry all the complexity of many other forms of music, yet the back beat can be heard and felt by people of all walks & ages. After hooking up with Smokey in late 2003, they both felt that a mandolin would be a perfect complementary fit to the acoustic music that was the result of Smokey's recent works. Frank soon bought one and began to teach himself how to play it. It wasn't long before they were blending together quite well. In December of 2004, with the heavy influence from Joe Wilson (Steppin' in it) Frank purchased a square neck dobro and started to teach himself how to play it. This seemed to be a natural fit into the style of music that The Harvestmen were starting to create. In Feburary of 2007 Frank, again through the influence of Joe Wilson & Drew Howard, purchased a Fender Stringmaster double neck steel string guitar and began teaching himself how to integrate this into The Harvestmen's sound which was now starting to sound like old tyme country or Texas swing. Hank's Gear Taylor 810-BCE Limited Edition Brazilian Rosewood Wechter/Sheerhorn 6524F 1969 Aria F Model Mandolin Lee Oskar Harmonica’s 1958 Fender Stringmaster Simmons 10 String Pedal Steel 1994 Fender 40th Annerversary Strat Fender Super Six Reverb & Tweed Blues Jr. & Tweed Pro Jr.