B. F. Shelton
Benjamin Frank Shelton (January 1, 1902 – February 28, 1963) was an American singer and banjoist who recorded a number of songs for Victor Records at the Bristol sessions in Bristol, Tennessee on July 29, 1927. Shelton traveled from Corbin, Kentucky where he worked as a barber to Bristol for the sessions with gospel singer and preacher Alfred Karnes. Four of the recordings survive today, "Darling Cora", "Pretty Polly", "Oh Molly Dear" and "Cold Penitentiary Blues".
Also recorded as Benjamin Frank Shelton · B.F. Shelton
B. F. Shelton
- Name
- B.
- Birth Name
- Benjamin Frank Shelton
- Born
- 1902
- Birthplace
- Clay County, Kentucky, United States
- Place of death
- Whitley County, Kentucky, United States
- Died
- 28 February 1963
- Occupation
- Musician
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- folk music
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wikidata · Q4833983 · wikipedia · B. F. Shelton
In this article
Biography
Biography
He recorded again, under the name Frank Shelton, for Columbia Records at the Johnson City sessions in Johnson City, Tennessee in October 1928, but the recordings were not issued and have not survived. Shelton was born in Clay County, Kentucky and died in Whitley County, Kentucky.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — B. F. Shelton • Birth Name — Benjamin Frank Shelton • Born — 1902 • Birthplace — Clay County, Kentucky, United States • Place of death — Whitley County, Kentucky, United States • Died — 28 February 1963 • Genre — Folk • Occupation — Musician • Years Active — 1927–1928 • Instrument — Vocals, banjo, harmonica, guitar • Label — Victor Records
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Clay County.
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Whitley County.
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Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article B. F. Shelton, revision 1341751265 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 26 August 2026.
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