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 76-100 of 113 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-55621 10-in. 7/23/1929 The moonlight march George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-55623 10-in. 7/25/1929 If you belived in me George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-55624 10-in. 7/25/1929 Song of the moonbeams George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-61022 10-in. 9/16/1930 My ideal Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-61053 10-in. 11/10/1930 My love for you George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor PBVE-61054 10-in. 11/14/1930 Song of the fool George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BRC-71896 10-in. 2/24/1932 You can make my life a bed of roses (Marry me) Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BRC-71914 10-in. 3/4/1932 Love, you funny thing! Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BSHQ-71952 10-in. 3/15/1932 My woman Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BSHQ-71953 10-in. 3/15/1932 Too many tears Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BRC-71986 10-in. 3/23/1932 Say George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BRC-72286 10-in. 4/14/1932 Tom Thumb's drum Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BRC-72288 10-in. 4/14/1932 Gosh darn! Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music ; Ethel Shutta Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-73357 10-in. 9/2/1932 All-American girl Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-73573 10-in. 9/24/1932 It's gonna be you Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-73574 10-in. 9/24/1932 Pu-leeze! Mister Hemingway Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-73577 10-in. 9/24/1932 Pink elephants Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-73843 10-in. 10/20/1932 Ain'tcha kinda sorry now? Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-74793 10-in. 1/11/1933 Hallelujah, I'm a bum Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-74794 10-in. 1/11/1933 My fraternity pin Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BS-74795 10-in. 1/11/1933 The girl in the little green hat Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Columbia 140258 10-in. 1/16/1925 Never gettin' no place blues Al Bernard ; Dixie Stars ; J. Russel Robinson Male vocal duet, with piano composer  
Columbia 142160 10-in. 5/6/1926 You need someone to love Broadway Bellhops ; Jack Wilson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W152228 10-in. 6/27/1932 (Ev'rything is gonna be) O.K. America Art Kassel ; "Kassels-in-the-Air" Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal ensemble songwriter  
Columbia W152430 10-in. 7/5/1933 Moonstruck Irene Collins ; Fran Frey and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 76-100 of 113 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Frey, Fran," accessed April 18, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

Frey, Fran. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 18, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

"Frey, Fran." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 18 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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