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 101-113 of 113 records)
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | W152433 | 10-in. | 7/5/1933 | Learn to croon | Fran Frey and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, baritone vocal | |
| Columbia | W152539 | 10-in. | 10/27/1933 | Puddin' Head Jones | Fran Frey and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, baritone vocal | |
| Columbia | W152540 | 10-in. | 10/27/1933 | Build a little home | Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Irene Collins ; Fran Frey | Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet | vocalist, baritone vocal | |
| Columbia | W152542 | 10-in. | 10/27/1933 | Sittin' on a log (Pettin' my dog) | Fran Frey and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, baritone vocal | |
| Columbia | W152549 | 10-in. | 11/14/1933 | Let's begin | Irene Collins ; Emil Coleman and his Riviera Orchestra ; Fran Frey | Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet | vocalist, baritone vocal | |
| OKeh | 80054 | 10-in. | 6/3/1926 | You need someone to love | Melody Sheiks | Jazz/dance band | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | 13692-13694 | 10-in. | 8/7/1924 | Never gettin’ no place blues | Dixie Stars | Male vocal duet, with orchestra | composer | |
| Brunswick | E37465 | 10-in. | 12/16/1931 | Crosby, Colombo and Vallee | Victor Young Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, baritone vocal | |
| Brunswick | E37466 | 10-in. | 12/16/1931 | (Potatoes are cheaper, tomatoes are cheaper) Now’s the time to fall in love | Victor Young Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | vocalist, baritone vocal | |
| Brunswick | E3301-E3303 | 10-in. | 6/26/1926 | You need someone to love | Windsor Hotel Orchestra | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio | songwriter | |
| Brunswick | E3779-E3780 | 10-in. | 9/16/1926 | She’s a corn-fed Indiana girl | Bessie Coldiron | Female vocal solo, with piano | songwriter | |
| Edison | 11035 | 10-in. | 6/9/1926 | She's a corn-fed Indiana girl (But she's Mama to me) | Tom Howard ; Jazz Babies | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter | |
| Edison | 11173 | 10-in. | 8/31/1926 | You need someone to love | Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers] | Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo | songwriter |
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
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Frey, Fran - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n2004152000
Wikidata: Fran Frey - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1440698
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/120145304391978571917
MusicBrainz: Fran Frey - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/8622408e-1e1b-44d3-89f6-31ac471ea4f6
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