Randall Franks (left) and Marty Hays (right) present Wyatt Ellis with his David Davis – Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship certificate at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville, near Nashville. (Photo: Teresa Ellis/Share America Foundation)
The Share America Foundation, Inc. proudly announces 16-year-old singer and mandolinist Wyatt Ellis of East Tennessee as the 2025 recipient of the David Davis – Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship, honoring students who excel in Appalachian musical arts.
The late Bluegrass star David Davis is remembered with a scholarship.
This scholarship commemorates bluegrass legend David Davis, mandolinist and leader of the Warrior River Boys for 40 years, who passed away in September 2024.
Ellis, a former student of Davis, first met him at age 12 during Monroe Mandolin Camp. “David was an incredible High Lonesome singer with such passion,” Ellis recalled. “He saw my love for singing and playing mandolin and took pride in nurturing it. I hope to honor his legacy by carrying forward that same passion.”
“I wish you great success,” she said. “David would be so proud of how you’re carrying on with what he shared with you.”
Marty Hays, a 30-year veteran of the Warrior River Boys, presented the award alongside Randall Franks, representing the band’s support.
“David shared the traditional sounds of Bill Monroe and others with his unique style,” Hays said. “It brings joy to my heart to see a musician of Wyatt’s age, singing Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley songs on the Grand Ole Opry.”
Ellis, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass chart with his album Happy Valley, featuring instrumentals written at age 11. A 2025 IBMA New Artist of the Year nominee, he began performing at the Grand Ole Opry at 13 and now leads the IBMA Momentum Award-nominated Wyatt Ellis Band. His latest single, “Country Boy Rock and Roll,” is finding wide appeal, and he is featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit.
Ellis will receive the scholarship funds upon enrolling in college. He and his band will appear at the Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Festival in Rosine, Ky. On Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 on an evening when the festival will also share a memorial tribute to David Davis. For more information, visit https://jerusalemridgefestival.com/.
Davis and his troupe toured with Randall Franks’ country variety show, now in its 80th year – The Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree, beginning in the 1990s.
“Wyatt’s talent is inspiring youth and adults to embrace traditional bluegrass,” said Randall Franks, Share America Foundation board member. “My late parents, Pearl and Floyd Franks, for whom this scholarship is also named, would be proud of how Wyatt is expanding the reach of Appalachian music.”
The scholarship is funded through donations, grants from organizations like the Kiwanis Club of Fort Oglethorpe and the Wes and Shirley Smith Charitable Endowment, special events, and projects like the Share America Foundation’s #1 Global Americana CD, Americana Youth of Southern Appalachia, available for donation at ShareAmericaFoundation.org, Amazon, and iTunes, and the upcoming A Zippedy Doodle Day: American Folk Songs.
Follow Share America Foundation, Wyatt Ellis, and Randall Franks on Facebook and other social media platforms.
About David Davis
David Davis, a mandolinist and vocalist, was a key figure in preserving the stylings of Bill Monroe and Appalachian roots music. Leading the Warrior River Boys since the 1980s, he earned acclaim through Rounder, Time Life, Wango, and Rebel recordings, including Didn’t He Ramble: Songs of Charlie Poole. A 2010 Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductee and 2014 National Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame honoree, Davis mentored countless musicians through performances and workshops.
About Wyatt Ellis
Wyatt Ellis, 16, is a rising bluegrass star from East Tennessee. A singer, mandolinist, and multi-instrumentalist, his debut album Happy Valley topped Billboard’s Bluegrass chart. A 2025 IBMA New Artist of the Year nominee, Ellis performs with his Wyatt Ellis Band and has appeared at the Grand Ole Opry and in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit. Learn more at https://WyattEllis.com.
About Randall Franks
Multiple music hall of fame inductee and Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Legend Randall Franks, known as “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s In the Heat of the Night, is an actor, musician, author, and Share America Foundation board member. A former collaborator with David Davis through both the Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree and the Warrior River Boys, Franks is dedicated to preserving Appalachian music traditions. He currently hosts the TV show Appalachian Sounds. Visit RandallFranks.com for more information.
About Share America Foundation, Inc.
The Share America Foundation, Inc., based in Northwest Georgia, supports the preservation of Appalachian music through scholarships, events, and projects. Pearl and Floyd Franks are the late parents and former entertainment managers of Randall Franks. Its board includes Franks, Chairman Gary Knowles, Vice Chairman John Brinsfield, Secretary James Pelt, and Vice President Jerry Robinson, Sr. Learn more at ShareAmericaFoundation.org.
https://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.png00Randall Frankshttps://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.pngRandall Franks2025-09-03 10:00:532025-09-02 22:41:44Share America Foundation Names Wyatt Ellis as 2025 David Davis – Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Recipient
Doodle and the Golden River Grass Georgia Music Hall of Fame Exhibit in 2003. (Photo: Peach Picked Publishing)
A Zippedy Doodle Day: An Appalachian Musical Legacy
Welcome to A Zippedy Doodle Day: An Appalachian Musical Legacy, a historic string band album and documentary, led by Randall Franks, who honors Doodle Thrower and the Golden River Grass. Additionally, funds support scholarships via the Share America Foundation and Appalachian historical preservation. Therefore, join us in this effort!
About the Project
Project Overview
Bluegrass and Americana artist/producer Randall Franks is spearheading A Zippedy Doodle Day, a historic string band album and documentary to support Appalachian music scholarships through the Share America Foundation, Inc. and the West Georgia Museum in Tallapoosa, Georgia, the hometown of John “Doodle” Thrower.
Legacy Preservation
The project builds on unreleased tracks from the late 1980s by Doodle and the Golden River Grass, featuring traditional folk recordings. This album, paired with a re-release of the band’s entire catalog, aims to preserve and share their legacy while raising funds for aspiring musicians.
“When we lost Doodle Thrower, we lost one of the cornerstones of original country music. He and his band were truly what country music is all about.” — Marty Stuart, Country Music Hall of Famer
Doodle and the Golden River Grass in the 1970s
Doodle and the Golden River Grass
Formed in 1963 as a square dance band in Tallapoosa, Georgia, Doodle and the Golden River Grass became a beloved folk act, known for their comedy, Appalachian folk songs, and upbeat tunes. Recognized as the last of the old-time Georgia fiddle bands, they were a unique part of country music history.
The band featured John “Doodle” Thrower (1929-1994) on harmonica, alongside fiddlers Seals Hicks, Bill Kee, Paul Wallace, Randall Franks, and Jerry Wesley. From the 1970s, James Watson (1935-2017) added clawhammer banjo, with long-running members including C.J. Clackum (guitar), Wesley Clackum (guitar and mandolin), the late Lynn Elliott (guitar), the late Gene Daniell (bass/sound engineer), and Steve Hesterlee (three-finger banjo).
Doodle and the Golden River Grass perform in 1990.
Cultural historian Alan Lomax described Thrower as “a little bit different from anyone we’ve met. He’s of Cornish descent, and he’s not uptight at all,” and the band as “a sort of five-piece Dixieland string band certainly as virtuosic as any gypsy orchestra. And they are playing what I’ve called ‘mountain music in overdrive’.”
Appalachian scholar Loyal Jones acknowledged Thrower in his work Country Music Humorists and Comedians. American folklorist, educator and artist Art Rosenbaum featured him in his visual art and documented the group in several recorded mediums.
A Collaborative Effort
Randall Franks (right) joins The Skillet Lickers (Phil & Russ Tanner), center, and Paul Puckett in the studio.
Randall Franks is inviting specific artists from country, bluegrass, and Americana to donate their time to record on these historic tracks, collaborating with studios near the artists for convenience.
Contributors
Bruce Boxleitner adds his voice bringing a western flair to the project.
Western icon Bruce Boxleitner, a National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Hall of Great Western Performers inductee and two-time Wrangler Award winner, is saddling up for A Zippedy Doodle Day! Bruce captivated audiences as Luke Macahan in How the West Was Won alongside James Arness to his iconic turn as Alan Bradley/Tron in Disney’s groundbreaking Tron and Tron: Legacy, Bruce has been a household name for decades. He’s battled spies as Lee Stetson in Scarecrow and Mrs. King, commanded the stars as Captain John Sheridan in Babylon 5, and brought comic charm as Billy Montana in The Gambler with Kenny Rogers. Recently, he starred as Ben Watkins in the western Far Haven (2023), proving he’s still a trailblazer.
Banjo star Gena Britt adds her talents at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville.
8-time IBMA Award winner Gena Britt – powerhouse banjo player, vocalist, and founding member of GRAMMY-nominated Sister Sadie (Mountain Home Music Company) – has joined the star-studded lineup.
Fresh off the release of her acclaimed new solo album Streets, Rivers, Dreams & Heartaches (Mountain Home Music Company), her latest accolade includes sharing the 2025 IBMA Instrumental Recording of the Year for “Ralph’s Banjo Special” with Kristin Scott Benson & Alison Brown.
Youth Dante Flores adds three-finger banjo at the Tempermill in Michigan.
Marty Hays, a veteran vocalist and bassist who shined on Rounder and Rebel Records over three decades with David Davis and the Warrior River Boys brings his soulful sound to the project enriching this folk endeavor.
Marty Hays adds vocals at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville near Nashville.
Anthony Howell goes full speed with a bit of banjo at Noxubee Hills Music Group Recording Studio in Mississippi.
As the 2023 National Banjo Champion Anthony Howell and a four-time IBMA Momentum Award nominee for Instrumentalist of the Year, Anthony brings his unique stylings on banjo and come vocals to this Appalachian musical legacy project. He has performed with notable bands including Williamson Branch, the Edgar Loudermilk Band, and most recently joined Seth Mulder & Midnight Run. Follow Anthony for more updates on his music journey at www.facebook.com/p/Anthony-Howell-Music-100048065487181/.
Dale Houston add his vocal stylings at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville
Trevor Holder adds his rolls at Witt Studio in Lafayette.
Banjo virtuoso Trevor Holder joins the stellar lineup. With Trevor’s Reno-style flair and bluegrass chops from The Price Sisters, Cutter & Cash and The Kentucky Grass, and Five Mile Mountain Road, this album and documentary are set to preserve timeless folk tunes like never before. Bluegrass Unlimited heralded him in 2025 as a “Modern Banjo Master” underscoring his rising prominence in the genre.
Country singer Dale Houston heartfelt vocals and traditional country style add a touch of timeless Americana to this collection of folk classics. Fresh off his 2024 album “That’s The Way I Am,” featuring standout tracks and recent nominations for awards like the Josie Music Awards, Dale continues to honor the roots of country music. He has collaborated with country artists such as Lee Newton on “Burning Boats” and David Frizzell on “Lefty, Merle, and Me,” and grew up immersed in the music of legends like Merle Haggard, Vern Gosdin, George Jones, and Conway Twitty. Discover more about Dale at his website: www.dalehouston.com
Jim Lauderdale and Randall Franks work in the studio adding his unique vocals to the project.
Adding his amazing vocal talents, two-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale, host of the Americana Music Awards, has penned hits for icons like George Strait, Patty Loveless, and Vince Gill and was recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His illustrious career spans over 30 studio albums since 1986, blending country, bluegrass, Americana, soul, and R&B including his latest “Country Super Hits Vol. 2.” Visit his official website: https://www.jimlauderdalemusic.com/
Alex Miller records at Buck’s Place Recording near Nashville.
Traditional country singer Alex Miller, Billy Jam Records artist, who skyrocketed to fame on American Idol in 2021 at just 17, brings his soulful voice and masterful guitar pickin’ to the album. With hits like “I’m Over You, So Get Over Me,” “She Makes Dirt Look Good,” and his recent songs “Oh Odessa,” “Secondhand Smoke,” and “My Appalachian Home.” Alex has proven he’s a force in traditional country.
At Buck’s Place Recording, Robert Montgomery frails his way in A Zippedy Doodle Day.
The 2004 Old-Time Banjo National Champion Robert Montgomery is renowned for his excellent singing and banjo playing, performing with groups like David Davis & the Warrior River Boys and Alan Sibley & The Magnolia Ramblers. His latest release is Ol’ Times Not Forgotten. He joins other top artists to support Appalachian music scholarships and historical preservation. Follow Robert on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertmontgomerymusic .
Kody Norris makes his vocal and musical additions at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville.
Fresh off dominating the awards circuit — including 2024 SPBGMA Entertainer of the Year, 7 total SPBGMA wins, 2025 IBMA Music Video of the Year for “The Auctioneer,” Kody’s personal Guitar Performer of the Year honors, and guest starring appearances on the iconic Grand Ole Opry stage — Rebel Records artist Kody Norris of The Kody Norris Show brings his powerhouse vocals and blistering guitar picking to this collaboration is pure mountain magic in the making! His 2025 album Highfalutin Hillbilly and current single ‘Waitress, Waitress’ — continue to shine in traditional bluegrass!
Ronnie & Justin Reno record at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville.
Bluegrass legend Ronnie Reno, 2016 SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats, and his talented son Justin Reno add their authentic Appalachian vibes to our whimsical journey. The son of Don Reno, from Ronnie’s early days performing on The Old Dominion Barndance at age seven to collaborating with giants like Merle Haggard, The Osborne Brothers, and his hit TV show Reno’s Old Time Music (now streaming on Country Road TV), the 2013 IBMA Broadcaster of the Year’s legacy is woven into the heart of American roots music. Joining him is Justin Reno, a gifted guitarist who’s been stepping into the spotlight alongside his dad and with other Nashville bands.
Mike Scott adds his licks at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville near Nashville.
Legendary banjo stylist Mike Scott brings his unmistakable hard-driving three-finger style and vocals to the project, bringing a 50+ year career of entertaining in every state in the US except Hawaii and 54 countries, 450 Grand Ole Opry performances, and playing with Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Carl Story, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent and more.
Opry Star Ketch Secor records for A Zippedy Doodle Day with Morgan Jahnig at Hartland Studios, Nashville, TN.
Grammy-winning Grand Ole Opry star Ketch Secor from the Old Crow Medicine Show brought his flair to a special performance alongside the Skillet Lickers with Paul Puckett! Secor penned the iconic hit “Wagon Wheel” and in 2025, he released his solo album ‘Story the Crow Told Me.’ He is currently hosting the PBS series “Tennessee Crossroads.”
The project includes contributions from the Skillet Lickers (Phil and Russ Tanner) and Paul Puckett, blending the legacies of Georgia’s first and last fiddle bands. Learn more at https://SkilletLickers.org/
Ralph Stanley II adds his artistry for engineer Jim Price at Hat Creek Recording – Jonesborough, TN.
Grammy-winning Ralph Stanley II, an acclaimed Appalachian performer from Virginia also enriches the project with his artistry. Learn more at https://ralph2.com/
Larry Stephenson, a five-time SPBGMA Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, and acclaimed mandolin virtuoso adds his voice to the songbook. Learn more at https://larrystephensonband.com/LSB/
Bluegrass stalwart Larry Stephenson tunes up before adding his special touch at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville.
Derek Stone brings an enthusiastic traditional style at Witt Studio in Lafayette.
Youth banjo stylist Derek Stone, 15, adds his approach to the album bringing a Reno style approach to one of the tunes. Derek has racked up impressive wins, including First Place Beginning Banjo, Third Place Adult Banjo (twice), and Third Place in the Bluegrass Band Competition at the Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree, plus First Place in the Kids’ Band Competition at the Mountain City Fiddler’s Convention. Currently in 10th grade at McCallie School, he’s the banjo player for Carl Towns & Upward Road.
With Conner Vlietstra‘s fiddle, guitar, and banjo expertise from The Price Sisters, Five Mile Mountain Road, and The Tennessee Hillbuddies,helps preserve timeless folk tunes like never before. The ETSU graduate is a 2021 Grand Master Fiddle Traditional Champion whohas built a reputation for his technical skill and deep roots in Appalachian traditions. Follow Conner on Instagram @connerbullwheatstraw
Conner Vlietstra creates hot licks for A Zippedy Doodle Day at Tim Witt’s Studio in LaFayette.
Other artists working on their additions include Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris, celebrated as Entertainer of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year wins with The Kody Norris Show, Dale Ann Bradley, a six-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year and two-time Grammy nominee, and #1 Billboard teen mandolin phenom Wyatt Ellis.
A diverse array of talented artists is lined up, each bringing additional richness and depth to the A Zippedy Doodle Day project. Some among those planning to join the effort are Tim Atwood, Dom Flemons, Noah Goebel, Daniel Grindstaff, Trevor Holder, Lee Newton, Marty Raybon, Alan Sibley, Margie Singleton, Smith & Wesley, and Mark Wheeler.
The Songs
We will share details of these classic folk songs as each is completed. Stay tuned for updates on this growing American Songbook contribution!
The FIRST SINGLE RELEASE IS COMING APRIL 10 on AirPlay Direct for Radio and for consumers on Amazon and Itunes. Stay Tuned ….
Support the Project
Your support can bring A Zippedy Doodle Day to life, preserving Appalachian music and empowering musicians through scholarships. Donate to the Share America Foundation, Inc.
Use this QR Code to Donate!
We are working on a CD, DVD, and digital releases. Stay tuned for updates on t-shirts and other merchandise!
You may also send tax-deductible donations via mail to Share America Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.
The Documentary
A Zippedy Doodle Day : An Appalachian Musical Legacy
Randall Franks, C.J. Clackum and Wesley Clackum film interviews.
Director Randall Franks began collecting interviews for “A Zippedy Doodle Day” documentary in 2017 when he recorded audio from banjo stylist James Watson. It was at this point the surviving band members developed the idea of an anthology of their music for charity. Shortly thereafter, he began video interviews to accompany this release. Among those collected so far are band members Wesley Clackum, C.J. Clackum, Steve Hesterlee and promoter Chuck Langley.
Others who worked with or saw the band are being sought. Some album participants are also contributing significant memories. The University of Georgia Special Collections Library is working with him to include Doodle and the Golden River Grass materials from the Georgia Folklore Collection archive collected by Art Rosenbaum and other historians. The National Council of Traditional Arts and The American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress assists with materials from their archives.
James Watson and Randall Franks in 2017 in Roanoke, Ala.
Randall Franks and 1970s GRG Member Steve Hesterlee
Armuchee Bluegrass Festival Founder Chuck Langley and Randall Franks
Supporting the Future of Music
Proceeds from A Zippedy Doodle Day will benefit the Share America Foundation, Inc., founded by Randall Franks in 2006, and the West Georgia Museum. These organizations preserve Appalachian legacy and support young musicians through scholarships.
Join us in celebrating this rich musical heritage and introducing a new generation to Doodle and the Golden River Grass!
Tim Witt Studio, LaFayette, Georgia; Buck Jarrell, Buck’s Place Recording – Hendersonville, Tenn.; Engineer Jim Price, Hat Creek Recording – Jonesborough, TN; Morgan Jahnig at Hartland Studios, Nashville, TN; Engineer Erik Maluchnik at Michigan’s The Tempermill;
When available to radio in 2026 you will find us on
More Doodling
Tallapoosa dedicates its Amphitheater honoring Doodle with his widow Ezell and members of the Golden River Grass present in 1999.
The rained poured down on the fairgrounds at the Cedartown Georgia fairgrounds. It was the site of a new bluegrass festival including many talented acts. I was there with my youth group, the Peachtree Pickers. We were dodging mud puddles from the rain that had already come in to get to the stage.
When another storm front came through, my father and I sought refuge in a cattle barn on the grounds. Inside, we found David Davis of the Warrior River Boys (www.DavidDavisandWRB.com) and his father also dodging the bad weather. They were also on the bill that day.
This deluge created an opportunity for us to meet and talk. That day began a four-decade long friendship that led David and I into an unusual musical creative partnership.
As we both plotted the course for our future careers in Bluegrass and beyond, we saw the opportunity to be cheerleaders, counselors, and sounding boards for ideas and opportunities as they came to us. Our talents and ourstyleswere different, so we didn’t see each other as competing for the same ground and jobs, however we believed in each of our strengths we could compliment what was ahead.
Doors opened for both of us as David landed on Rounder Records and created critically acclaimed albums and a widening festival audiences with his Monroe-infused Appalachian roots sounds.
I shifted to guest starring for the Grand Ole Opry and crossed over to acting in network TV reaching large country music audiences.
Whenever David needed a musician, all he had to do was call and went to help. When I began mounting my country variety shows – The Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree, I asked David to join me and provide the bluegrass portion and do some songs with me as I moved from country, to bluegrass, to gospel on my shows.
He moved along to Wango and Rebel Records and even had some Time-Life recordings as the years ticked off before returning again to Rounder.
As I was focusing more closely on my Appalachian roots, I asked David to record a brother-duet album with me called “God’s Children.” He didn’t hesitate and we created some eclectic sounds with pioneers “Doc” Tommy Scott, Cotton and Jane Carrier, and my television friend Sonny Shroyer “Enos” from “The Dukes of Hazzard” as special guests.
Through much of what we considered the ups and downs of the music industry, we held on, grew, learned, and tried to remain relevant, reinventing and creating opportunities to leave a mark. There was not much that either of us did in the music business, that the other didn’t chime in his thoughts.
I know these memories are probably not of much interest, but I received the sad news before writing today that my friend David died due to injuries sustained in an auto accident Sept. 15 in his home state of Alabama. His wife Cindy was injured but is recovering.
The news has rocked the worldwide Americana and bluegrass music community as he was widely respected and admired. He had also become a mentor to many talented young artists now finding their place in the larger music scene such as Wyatt Ellis, The Price Sisters,Jeremy and Corrina Rose Logston StephensofHigh Fidelity, Kody Norris of the Kody Norris Show and RFD-TV star Alan Sibley and so many more.
I helped his family prepare a press release about the Alabama Bluegrass Music and National Old Time Country Music Hall of Famer’s amazing life and his extensive musical catalog that has touched millions through performances, television and radio.
We will soon gather in Cullman, Ala. to remember and celebrate the life of a trueSoutherngentleman whose mandolin playing and vocal stylings have touched two generations of music fans.
I hope you will celebrate his talents by finding his music, download or buy an album, or listen on YouTube and share it with friends. You may also donate to support Appalachian music scholarships in memory of David Davis atwww.ShareAmericaFoundation.orgor by sending to Share America Foundation, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755. Rest in peace David. You are missed.
https://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.png00Randall Frankshttps://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.pngRandall Franks2024-09-25 06:00:582024-10-15 21:35:36David Davis, a bluegrass mandolin stilled
Doodle and the Golden River Grass Georgia Music Hall of Fame Exhibit in 2003. (Photo: Peach Picked Publishing)
As we both plotted the course for our future careers in Bluegrass and beyond, we saw the opportunity to be cheerleaders, counselors, and sounding boards for ideas and opportunities as they came to us. Our talents and our
