Wade Juel Burchfield, 75, of Bryson City, died Friday, July 23, 2004, at his residence. Born on Valentines' day in 1928, Wade was the son of Caro Cleveland and Catherine DeHart Burchfield. He grew up in the Smokey Mountains of Western North Carolina on Jenkins Branch in Bryson City. As the family used to sit near the radio and listen to the Grand Ole Opry on WSM, Wade learned to play the guitar. He and his brother Wiley were early pioneers of bluegrass music in this area. Along with my dad Marvin, who played the fiddle, they had a family bluegrass mountain band that spanned for more than fifty years.

In his early years Wade wrote the song, "Hit Parade of Love", which was recorded by Jimmy Martin. He also played with Lulla-Belle and Scotty, Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, the Osborne Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson and many more country music legends. His contributions to the music industry were many, and he will be sorely missed by one and all who knew him.

There are all gone now, but they will never be forgotten - Glen, Carl, Sam, Milburn, Horace, Telitha, Frank, Marvin, Wade, Wiley, and Carroll. What a great family!

Wade Juel Burchfield, 75, of Bryson City, died Friday, July 23, 2004, at his residence. Born on Valentines' day in 1928, Wade was the son of Caro Cleveland and Catherine DeHart Burchfield. He grew up in the Smokey Mountains of Western North Carolina on Jenkins Branch in Bryson City. As the family used to sit near the radio and listen to the Grand Ole Opry on WSM, Wade learned to play the guitar. He and his brother Wiley were early pioneers of bluegrass music in this area. Along with my dad Marvin, who played the fiddle, they had a family bluegrass mountain band that spanned for more than fifty years.

In his early years Wade wrote the song, "Hit Parade of Love", which was recorded by Jimmy Martin. He also played with Lulla-Belle and Scotty, Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, the Osborne Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Willie Nelson and many more country music legends. His contributions to the music industry were many, and he will be sorely missed by one and all who knew him.

There are all gone now, but they will never be forgotten - Glen, Carl, Sam, Milburn, Horace, Telitha, Frank, Marvin, Wade, Wiley, and Carroll. What a great family!