Mayfred Nutter, later affectionately known as Mayf, was born on October 19th, 1941, in Clarksburg, West Virginia. The origin of his nickname dates back to his teenage years, when he played on the All-star Babe Ruth baseball team. A sportswriter, struggling to spell his full name correctly, began referring to him as "Mayf" in 1957, a moniker that would stick.
Mayf's coach also adopted the shortened name, and it wasn't long before the nickname became an integral part of his identity. Some sources have incorrectly listed his surname as Adamson, but this is a myth with a fascinating backstory. According to legend, the name Adamson was suggested by his friend, legendary singer-songwriter Pat Boone, as a way to make his name sound more authentic. Mayf's original name, Mayf Nutter, was allegedly thought to resemble that of a comedic singer.
Mayf's diverse career has spanned both music and television. He was approached by Buck Owens to be a part of the emerging Bakersfield Sound, a genre of West Coast country music. Mayf has also appeared in numerous TV and movie roles, including the classic Western series Gunsmoke, where he played the cousin of Festus Hagans.
One of his most notable roles was as Bobby Bigelow, the leader of the Haystack Gang, on the popular TV series Walton's Mountain. Additionally, he portrayed Parker Winslow, the boyfriend of Valene Ewing, on the soap opera Knots Landing.
