Fran Frey

Fran Frey (December 23, 1903 in Indiana - December 1, 1962 in California) was a singer and saxophonist best known for his work for George Olsen and His Music in the 1920s and early 1930s. Among his better known songs are "The Varsity Drag" of 1927; "Big City Blues" of 1929, and "A Garden in the Rain", also of 1929. Frey sang on 77 songs with the George Olsen band on recordings and on the radio. "Who?" sold more than a million copies.

Frey was heard on the Oldsmobile Program on CBS radio in 1933.

Although he played for several other bands after Olsen's, including Victor Young's, he never achieved the level of fame he had in earlier years.

Frey died of a heart attack in his home on December 2, 1962 at the age of 58. At the time of his death, he was writing music for the Ice Capades and for Columbia Pictures.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 23, 1903, Died December 1, 1962 (California)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1933

Roles Represented in DAHR: baritone vocal, songwriter, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 113 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-36910 10-in. 11/6/1926 Do-do-do George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-36953 10-in. 11/22/1926 Meadow lark George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-36954 10-in. 11/22/1926 I've got the girl! George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-37130 10-in. 12/13/1926 Ev'ry little while George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-37131 10-in. 12/13/1926 For you and me George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-37163 10-in. 12/21/1926 Sam, the old accordion man George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-37164 10-in. 12/21/1926 Thinking of you (I've grown so lonesome) George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-37549 10-in. 1/19/1927 Blue skies Bob Borger ; Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music ; Bob Rice Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-37550 10-in. 1/19/1927 Where's that rainbow? Bob Borger ; Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music ; Bob Rice Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-37741 10-in. 2/4/1927 At sundown (When love is calling me home) George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-37742 10-in. 2/4/1927 Somebody else Bob Borger ; Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music ; Bob Rice Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-39471 10-in. 8/18/1927 Lucky in love George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-39472 10-in. 8/18/1927 Good news George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-39474 10-in. 8/19/1927 The varsity drag George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-40182 10-in. 10/14/1927 Blue baby (Why are you blue?) George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-40501 10-in. 10/21/1927 My heart stood still George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-40535 10-in. 11/1/1927 The song is ended (But the melody lingers on) George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-45182 10-in. 5/28/1928 Because my baby don't mean 'maybe' now! George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-45627 10-in. 6/12/1928 Pickin' cotton George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-45628 10-in. 6/12/1928 Old man sunshine (Little boy blue bird) George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-45641 10-in. 6/18/1928 American tune George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-45891 10-in. 7/19/1928 Ten little miles from town George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-46600 10-in. 7/23/1928 King for a day Fran Frey Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-46601 10-in. 7/23/1928 Out of the dawn Fran Frey Male vocal solo, with orchestra vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-46955 10-in. 8/28/1928 Out of the tempest George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 26-50 of 113 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Frey, Fran," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

Frey, Fran. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

"Frey, Fran." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917

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