Solivan grew up near Modesto, California. His grandmother on his father’s side played mandolin and fiddle, and his father plays the banjo, guitar, bass, and mandolin. His mother’s side of the family included classical violin and cello players. He fell in love with bluegrass music at an early age. Solivan formed his first band, Generation Gap in the late 1980s. They once opened for Ralph Stanley at a California show. In 1995, at age 18, Solivan moved to Alaska where he sat first chair violin in the University of Alaska’s Symphony Orchestra. and played mandolin in his friend Ginger Boatwright's band. While in Alaska, he met his future wife, Leah Sturgis. In 2002, Solivan recorded his first solo albumI Am a Rambler when he temporarily moved to Nashville from Alaska to pursue musical goals. He was assisted by friends such as David Grier, Rob Ickes, and Shad Cobb. After a year, Solivan returned to Alaska to marry Sturgis.
Country Current
In 2003, Solivan auditioned and was offered the electric guitar position in the U.S. Navy, service band Country Current. He played electric guitar in their country band and mandolin and fiddle in their bluegrass band for six years. In 2006, while in the Navy playing with Country Current, Solivan recorded and released a solo album Selfish Tears.
Dirty Kitchen
After the Navy, Solivan decided to form his own band. Besides Solivan, the current lineup of Dirty Kitchen includes Mike Munford, Chris Luquette, and Jeremy Middleton. The band name is a reference to the gourmet meals Solivan prepares for friends and family. Frank Solivan and Dirty Kitchen have released three studio albums: Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen in 2010, On the Edge in 2013, and Cold Spell in 2014.
Solivan has toured with The Earls of Leicester when Tim O'Brien had conflicting commitments. Solivan also stages "The Dirty Kitchen Experience," a three-course meal prepared by Solivan, followed by a Dirty Kitchen house concert. Solivan built his primary mandolin from scratch at a workshop under the tutelage of luthier Roger Siminoff.
Awards
In 2014, The albumCold Spell by Frank & Dirty Kitchen was nominated for a Grammy award in the Bluegrass Album category. In 2013, Mike Munford was voted Banjo Player of the Year by the IBMA, and guitarist Chris Luquette received the Momentum Award for Performance Instrumentalist. In 2014 Dirty Kitchen received four IBMA award recognitions:
Frank Solivan was nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year and Mandolin Player of the Year
Mike Munford was nominated for Banjo Player of the Year
Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen won Instrumental Group of the Year award
In 2016, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen were again the IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year.
