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 51-75 of 113 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-47511 10-in. 9/13/1928 Doin' the raccoon George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-47528 10-in. 9/18/1928 Where were you—where was I? George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-47802 10-in. 10/3/1928 Where the shy little violets grow George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-48438 10-in. 12/6/1928 Come west little girl, come west George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-49250 10-in. 12/11/1928 Makin' whoopee! Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-49251 10-in. 12/11/1928 Until you get somebody else Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-49625 10-in. 1/8/1929 When the world is at rest George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-49634 10-in. 1/11/1929 The Monte Carlo song George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-50963 10-in. 3/22/1929 Walking with Susie Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-50980 10-in. 3/27/1929 Dream mother George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-50981 10-in. 3/27/1929 A garden in the rain Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-50996 10-in. 4/1/1929 Breakaway Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-50997 10-in. 4/1/1929 Big city blues George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-51606 10-in. 4/4/1929 I'm in seventh heaven Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-51607 10-in. 4/4/1929 Little pal Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-51998 10-in. 5/13/1929 Reaching for someone (And not finding anyone there) Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-53529 10-in. 5/29/1929 Watcha want to make me love you for, baby Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal, composer  
Victor BVE-53530 10-in. 5/29/1929 Or what have you Fran Frey ; Ethel Shutta Female-male vocal duet, with jazz/dance band vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-54481 10-in. 10/27/1929 What do I care George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo (takes 4-6); with male vocal trio (takes 1-3) vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-54482 10-in. 10/27/1929 South Sea Rose George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo (takes 4-6); with male vocal solo (takes 1-3) vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-54519 10-in. 11/24/1929 Mona Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-54621 10-in. 2/23/1930 When the little red roses get the blues for you Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-54675 10-in. 3/7/1930 Sing a little theme song Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-54800 10-in. 5/13/1930 Shoo the hoodoo away Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-54802 10-in. 5/13/1930 There's happiness over the hill George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with vocal chorus vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 51-75 of 113 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Frey, Fran," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

Frey, Fran. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

"Frey, Fran." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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