Frank Guarente

Francisco Saverio "Frank" Guarente (October 5, 1893, Montemiletto, Italy - July 21, 1942, New York City) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader.

Guarente received formal training in music while in Italy, and emigrated to America in 1910, settling in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where a brother of his lived. He relocated to New Orleans in 1914, where he took a job in a bank and associated with ethnically Italian musicians such as Nick LaRocca and Tony Parenti; he also met King Oliver, and eventually started getting gigs with New Orleans brass bands. He played at Tom Anderson's club and toured Texas under the name Ragtime Frank with his ensemble, the Alabama Five. In 1917, he served in the United States Army during World War I, then played in Philadelphia with Charlie Kerr (alongside Eddie Lang).

He founded his own group in 1921 in New York, which included Arthur Schutt and Chauncey Morehouse. Soon after, Paul Specht picked his players up to join a larger orchestra, and Guarente played with Specht, including on European tours, through 1924. He also led a Specht side group called The Georgians, which recorded between 1922 and 1924 in the style of the Original Dixieland Jass Band. In 1924, he left Specht to form his own group, The New Georgians, which was active until 1927 and did its own European tours. In 1927-1928, he worked in England with the Savoy Orpheans and ensembles associated with Bert Firman. Returning to the United States in 1928, he joined Specht's orchestra again, playing until 1930. He joined Victor Young's band in 1930, remaining there until 1936, and also played with Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, Jack Teagarden, Bing Crosby, and The Boswell Sisters on record and radio. In 1937, ill health forced him to stop performing.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 5, 1893 (Montemiletto), Died July 21, 1942

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1922 - 1934

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, trumpet, songwriter, composer

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

Recordings (Results 51-69 of 69 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W141281 10-in. 11/18/1925 Spanish shawl Georgians Jazz/dance band leader  
Columbia W141282 10-in. 11/18/1925 Clap hands! Here comes Charley! Georgians ; Johnny Morris Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W141952 10-in. 4/13/1926 Spring is here Georgians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W141953 10-in. 4/13/1926 Horses Georgians Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W143302 10-in. 1/14/1927 My baby's back Georgians ; Johnny Morris Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia W143303 10-in. 1/14/1927 Frisco Bay Georgians ; Johnny Morris Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 147478 10-in. 11/22/1928 My mother's eyes Frank Guarente and his Orchestra ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 147479 10-in. 11/22/1928 Sweethearts on parade Frank Guarente and his Orchestra ; Robert Wood Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 147481 10-in. 11/22/1928 When Polly walks through the hollyhocks Frank Guarente and his Orchestra ; Irving Kaufman Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
Columbia 147683 10-in. 11/30/1928 I'm bringing a red, red rose Arthur Ross and his Westerners [Georgians] ; Marvin Young [Irving Kaufman] Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo leader  
OKeh W401821 10-in. 4/23/1929 Daddy, change your mind Tom Dorsey Novelty Orchestra Jazz/dance quartet songwriter  
Brunswick E20506-E20507 10-in. 10/25/1926 Back beats Rube Bloom Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Brunswick E20893-E20895 10-in. 12/7/1926 Back beats Rube Bloom Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Brunswick E21720-E21722 10-in. 3/3/1927 Back beats Five Pennies ; Red Nichols Jazz/dance band composer  
Decca 38320 10-in. 8/16/1934 Valse bluette Victor Young Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 38321 10-in. 8/16/1934 Tales from the Vienna woods, part 1 Victor Young Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 38322 10-in. 8/16/1934 Tales from the Vienna woods, part 2 Victor Young Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 38323 10-in. 8/16/1934 A perfect day Victor Young Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 38327 10-in. 8/16/1934 Beautiful love Victor Young Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 51-69 of 69 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Guarente, Frank," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110529.

Guarente, Frank. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110529.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/110529

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