Frank Maher was born in St. John's Newfoundland on the 7th of March 19...Ooops, almost gave it away there. Frank, like Garbo, prefers to let his real age remain a mystery, but he tells me that he is in his *extremely* late forties.

Frank lived in the east end of St. John's in that magical and mystical locale known as The Battery. The house where he grew up is no longer standing, but he has a great many memories of people and musicians who lived in that part of town during the 40's and 50's. His mother, Bridget (who is still alive and as sharp as a tack as she approaches her 90th birthday) was an accordion player, and she passed on her love of the instrument to her son, along with a large repertoire of tunes. In those days, there was no shortage of musicians to share tunes with. Recordings were also a useful source of jigs and reels. The Flanagan Brothers, John Kimmel and The Mcnulty Family, now names of a forgotten musical era, were some of the most popular and influential traditional musicians of the first half of the twentieth century. They were also recording artists, with large catalogs of 78 RPM recordings to their credit. Like any young fellow, Frank sat down with his "axe" and his records to learn the current songs and tunes of his time.

Frank got married, had a family, worked at different trades, and enjoyed sports such as boxing (which lead to and injury of his hand that prevented him from playing accordion for eleven years). In 1959 he got a job as a bartender at a club on Duckworth St. called the Harbour Inn. Many incredible sessions were held at this club before it burned down in 1986. Frank was always in the middle of the fray, playing his four stop with one hand, and pouring beer for his customers with the other.

His musical talent manifested itself early on. With it came the realization that more than pleasure could be derived in playing a few tunes. American servicemen with pockets full of change became his first paying customers during the war years, and Frank would happily entertain them with his harmonica in exchange for the scattered quarter.

It was much later on in life however that Frank's career really started to take off. In the early eighties he became part of the Quidi Vidi Minstrels. Shortly thereafter, he joined the legendary Figgy Duff at a time when this band was truly at the height of it's musical powers. With Figgy Duff, Frank embarked on a new vocation as a roving musician, and traveled all over North America, Britain and Europe.

After his stint with the Duff, Frank played with The Plankerdown Band, and appeared as a guest artist on an enormous number of recordings. Here's his discography (not a complete one...even Frank can't remember how many albums he's been a part of!):

All the Best (A compilation of various Nfld. Artists)
Emile Benoit: Viva La Rose
Figgy Duff: Weather Out the Storm
Plankerdown Band: The Jig is Up
Close to the Floor (A compilation of Nfld. Instrumental music)
The John White Band: A Sigh for the Past
The Literacy Celebration Singers: At the Crossroads
The Mercers: This Island
Our Labrador (A compilation of Musicians from Labrador)
Connemara Band: The River
Connemara Band: Near and Distant Shores
Pamela Morgan: On a Wing and a Prayer
Harry Martin: Visions of this Land
Snotty Var
James Joyce: St.John's Town
Christina Smith and Jean Hewson: Like Ducks!
Tickle Harbour: Battery Included

Frank is not a member of a band at the moment, although he is still very active in the music community. He can often be found with friends at the Ship Inn on Sat. afternoons, playing a few tunes, displaying his legendary wit, and generally keeping the clientele entertained. Frank will be the featured folk club guest with his friends The Maher's Bahers (Jean Hewson, Christina Smith and Rick West), Wednesday, December 16th at the Blarneystone on George St.