1983’s Record, Waymasters
Waymasters’ ’55 Flex bus
Waymasters 1984
Waymasters 1987
Waymasters 1985

They had spent the last four years with younger brother, Mike, singing in the gospel group, Heaven Bound, and

two years before that with the White Robe Quartet. But

now they were on their own. Singing was what they did

and now it was time for them to do it their way. So began the Waymasters.


The first few years of the new group saw it struggle with personnel and style. A friend from church, Grant Lanning, signed on immediately as the group’s lead singer. Tommy would be the bass singer, and Harold moved from baritone, which he had sung in the other groups, to tenor. They added two other members from church, Allen Davidson on baritone vocal and Jimmy West on piano. At that time the group was considered a quartet and used a piano as their only instrumentation. 






Personnel in the baritone position would change often in these early years. Then, with Jimmy's departure in 1981,

the group found itself touring as a three piece. This

                     would mark the turning point for the

                      group's sound. With no piano, the group

                       was forced to revert to the style of music

                        they had learned to play in their living

                        rooms as boys. Instrumentally, Tommy

                         would play the bass, Harold, rhythm

                         guitar, and Mike Frizsell reunited with his

                         brothers to become the new baritone

                          singer and lead guitarist. As a result of

                          this change, the Waymaster sound, as we

                          now know it, was born.


The four toured extensively throughout the

early '80s. They would record two popular

records that remain fan favorites to this day.

They include their self-titled debut,

Waymasters, and their sophomore effort,

Old & New. Both records included often

unheard, mountain classics mixed with

original songs.


The year 1984 marked a big change for the

band. Not long after the release of Old &

New, Mike left the group. Soon afterward

Grant's younger brother, Clif Lanning, fresh

from the US Marines, was brought in as the new baritone singer. Without breaking stride, the group continued to tour. They also added a talented, young lead guitarist named

Lane Pressley. Lane's playing style and versatility

                        with different instruments began a theme

                         that would continue in the band. He

                         created depth by adding instruments like

                          the mandolin as a new part of the

                          Waymaster sound. At the end of the year,

                           on New Year’s Eve, Tommy's 12-year-old

                           son, Danny Frizsell, joined the band

                           relieving his dad as bass player. The

                            group was growing, but no one expected

                            what was to come.


In early 1985 the Waymasters recorded their third album,

I am His, He is Mine. Because they were still new to the band, Lane and Danny did not play on the project. Things were moving fast, and more change was coming. This was the year the version of the band most recognized as the “classic” Waymasters would be established.

This happened at the end of the year. Once again,

on New Year’s Eve, the band grew. Tommy's

oldest son, Darrell Frizsell, and two friends,

Tim Reynolds and "Chewie" McMahan, joined

the group—Darrell on banjo and harmonica,

Tim on guitar, and Chewie on guitar and

mandolin. This addition marked the beginning

of the group’s most productive and popular span

of the ’80s.


The group was more in demand than ever, and

in early 1986 they recorded their fourth record

entitled, Smoky Mountain Gospel. This time

Lane provided most of the lead instrumentation

for the album. The remainder of the year, the group toured heavily, continuing to spread the word of God through song and growing their fan base.


The spring of 1987 saw the release of the group’s fifth album, Led out of Bondage. It was recorded in a studio recently opened and owned by Lane. Though the project was popular with Waymasters’ fans, it would also mark their last record of the decade. The nine-piece band continued to tour heavily for over a year. During this

time, the group solidified the homegrown,

Smoky Mountain Gospel sound which is

so synonymous with their name today. It

was also during this time that they began

to enjoy regular play on radios across the

southeast with songs such as Led out of

Bondage, Joshua, Move Back Ole Satan,

and more. Then, in mid 1988, Lane came

to the band and sadly turned his lead

guitar duties over to a then still “green”

and young, Chewie. Lane had felt led

to expand his talents beyond the group, and plans

for marriage were also on the horizon forcing the

tough decision. A vital member of the band, his musical impact is still reflected in the group to this day.


The group now numbered eight. Four

singers and four band members. In fact, now in their

late teens, the four band members were writing songs

and singing as well. They had even dubbed themselves, “Canaan Band”—Danny singing lead, Tim tenor, Darrell baritone, and Chewie bass. They had progressed so far

in fact, that they often substituted for the other singers

when necessary.


The next two years kept the group very busy. Their popularity was at its peak and their full schedule kept them out of the studio and on the road. The 1980s ended with the Waymasters at the top of their game and widely considered one of the most spiritual and entertaining gospel artists of the south.