Frederick J. Bacon

Frederick J. Bacon (1871-1948) was a late 19th to mid 20th century performer and recording artist on the five string banjo. He was also an inventor and entrepreneur, educator, composer, At the height of his performance career he played the banjo nationally. Along with Fred Van Eps and Vess Ossman he was part of a group of banjoists labeled “virtuoso” in the newspapers. Musicianship Across his career, Fred J. Bacon played a variety of musical styles on the five-string banjo and snare drum. His performances included his own compositions such as The Fascinator and The Conqueror march, classical compositions such as Minuette a l’Antique by Paderewski, and arrangements of folk music or minstrel songs, including Massa’s in the Cold, Cold Ground. Known mainly as a banjo player, he also continued to bring his drum on stage throughout his career, doing drum solos, and in 1936 advertised as a teacher of banjo, guitar, drums and violin. Growing up in Connecticut, he took banjo lessons from Alfred A. Farland when he was 12-years old. His earliest acts included roles with “Hornsby’s Oats” (a stage show in Boston) and with Broncho John’s Wild West Show as “Nebraska Fred.” In 1918 Bacon was adver