Lickety Split

The Lickety Split Banjo Boys; A Family Affair.

By Alyssa McTaggart

from left, Uncle Junior, Frankie Revell, Fankie Revell, Chuck Sherry not pictured

It was a busy but fun filled weekend for the city of Frostburg, especially for the Universities campus as people gathered from all around to be a part of the festivities taking place. The campus was filled with different sound and sites, the smell of kettle corn and funnel cakes filled the air as Frostburg celebrated its heritage. One of the most popular things happening was all the music being showcased at this years seventh annual Appalachian Festival. A variety of different musical acts were in attendance ranging all the way from solo artists, to groups of four, to dancing ensembles like The Barnstorm and The RockCandy Cloggers, to Footwork Percussive Dance Ensemble, Incredible Feet. Many different genres were on display as sounds of bluegrass, blues, traditional American, and original folk rang out through the air at Frostburg State University campus on Saturday. One group in particular, The Lickety Split Banjo Boys have been playing bluegrass music together for quite some time, twenty-seven years to be exact. This entertaining and family friendly band is unique in that all members of the band are family members. All the guys started the band locally, hailing from Clear Spring Maryland. Founded in 1987, members include Chuck Sherry (base, guitar) who also plays base for the band Time Travelers, Frankie Revell (guitar, banjo, ukulele, vocals) Fred Revell (banjo, washboard) and Uncle Junior (guitar). Music is a big part of this family’s life and legacy. Recently Frankie had an uncle inducted in music hall of fame, “Uncle William Arnold Fleegle was inducted into the National Endowment for Folk-art Music Hall of Fame in West Virginia.” When asked about how their interest in music started he stated, “My dad heard Emory play banjo on the radio and that’s what got him started into music.” Like his father before him, Frankie also became heavily involved with music and in time learned to play multiple different stringed instruments. “The first instrument I learned to play was the banjo.” He said “My dad taught me string for string when I was seven years old and I’ve been playing music for twenty years now.” With each song played the band member’s musical skills and years of experience were evident as members like Frankie sang lead vocals for each song and switched around to three different instruments, first to the guitar, then the banjo, and finally ukulele. His father Fred also changed it up at times, going from playing banjo for one song to guitar in the next. This was an especially impressive feat considering what his father has recently gone through. “Dad was diagnosed with all-timers, but he continues to play banjo” Frankie said. This year is the third year that the band has played at the festival and they have enjoyed every moment of it. They originally came to play at a pancake supper but had to change plans when the supper got cut short. So instead, they continued to play their music and occasionally pausing to talk to bystanders passing by, which given their friendly nature, is just fine with them.