Frank B. Converse. The name of Converse is indissolubly associated with all that is great in banjo playing.
Mr. Converse began the study of music at the immature age of 6; at 14 he took up the banjo, devoting all his spare time to study. His first professional appearance was with McFarland, in Detroit.
He joined Matt. Peel’s Minstrels in 1856, remaining until the Spring of 1858.
Subsequently he gave banjo lessons in Memphis, Tenn. Later he joined Mrs. Matt. Peel’s Minstrels; March 19, 1867, with George Coes and Sam Purdy, organized Purdy, Coes and Converse’s Minstrels. Mr. Converse at various times had schools in St. Louis, San Francisco and New York.
He was the author of many high-class works on the banjo, including a book for beginners.
Frank B. Converse was born in Westfield, Mass., June 17, 1837; he died in New York City, September 5, 1903.
“Chuck” (Charles H.) Atkinson, one of the great bone players of minstrelsy, when the artistic handling of them was an art, began his professional career in 1847, being then known as Master Charles, a singer with one of the early organizations; shortly afterwards he was with the famous “Yankee” Locke for a period of five weeks. What might be termed his regular career began a little later with John Carle (Uncle John, the “Lively Flea”); he remained with Carle three years; subsequently going to Boston, where he was several years in stock.
He played frequently with the Morris Brothers in Boston, and succeeded Joe Murphy after the latter had separated from Ben Cotton; Murphy himself was a great bone performer, and Atkinson simply had to be good to hold the position he did with so much credit.
Other engagements were Boyce & Mudge’s Minstrels, 1866, and “Green’s Mocking Bird Minstrels” in 1871; his last minstrel engagement was with Sam Sharpley. He retired from the profession about 20 years before his death.
Charles Atkinson was born at Limington, Maine, December 1, 1837; he died at Brookline, Mass., February 2, 1909.