Franny Beecher
Francis Eugene Beecher (September 29, 1921 – February 24, 2014) was the lead guitarist for Bill Haley & His Comets from 1954 to 1962, and is best remembered for his innovative guitar solos combining elements of country music and jazz. He composed the classics "Blue Comet Blues", "Goofin' Around", "Week End", "The Catwalk", and "Shaky" when he was the lead guitarist for Bill Haley and the Comets. He continued to perform with surviving members of the Comets into 2006. In 2012, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted Beecher as a member of the Comets by a special committee, aimed at correcting the previous mistake of not inducting the Comets with Bill Haley. |
Birth and Death Data: Born September 29, 1921 (Norristown), Died February 24, 2014 (Philadelphia)
Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1954 - 1959
Roles Represented in DAHR: lead guitar
= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
| Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decca | 86809 | 9/21/1954 | Happy baby | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 86810 | 9/21/1954 | Dim, dim the lights (I want some atmosphere)-1 | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 87325 | 1/5/1955 | Birth of the boogie-1 | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 87326 | 1/5/1955 | Mambo rock | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 87921 | 5/10/1955 | Two hound dogs | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 87922 | 5/10/1955 | Razzle dazzle | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 88690 | 9/22/1955 | R-O-C-K | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 88691 | 9/22/1955 | Rock-a-beatin' boogie | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 88692 | 9/23/1955 | The Saints rock 'n' roll | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 88693 | 9/23/1955 | Burn that candle | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 88995 | 12/12/1955 | See you later, alligator | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 88996 | 12/12/1955 | The paper boy (on Main Street, U.S.A.) | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89594 | 3/23/1956 | Goofin' around | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89595 | 3/23/1956 | Rudy's rock | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89596 | 3/23/1956 | Hide and seek-1 | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89597 | 3/23/1956 | Hey then, there now | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89598 | 3/23/1956 | Tonight's the night | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89599 | 3/23/1956 | Hook, line and sinker | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89611 | 3/27/1956 | Blue comet blues | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89612 | 3/27/1956 | Calling all comets | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89613 | 3/27/1956 | Choo choo ch'boogie | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89614 | 3/30/1956 | A rockin' little tune | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89615 | 3/30/1956 | Hot dog buddy buddy | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 89616 | 3/30/1956 | Rockin' through the rye | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 100316 | 7/12/1956 | Teenager's mother | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 100317 | 7/12/1956 | Rip it up-1 ; Rip it up-2 | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 100702 | 10/4/1956 | Don't knock the rock | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 100703 | 10/4/1956 | Forty cups of coffee | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102039 | 3/22/1957 | Miss you | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102040 | 3/22/1957 | (You hit the wrong note) Billy goat | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102041 | 3/22/1957 | Rockin' rollin' rover | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102042 | 3/25/1957 | Please don't talk about me when I'm gone | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102043 | 3/25/1957 | You can't stop me from dreaming | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102044 | 3/25/1957 | I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a letter | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102045 | 3/25/1957 | Rock Lomond | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102046 | 3/29/1957 | Is it true what they say about Dixie? | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102047 | 3/29/1957 | Carolina in the morning | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102048 | 3/29/1957 | The dipsy doodle | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102049 | 3/29/1957 | Ain't misbehavin' (I'm savin' my love for you) | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102050 | 3/29/1957 | The beak 'speaks' | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102160 | 4/3/1957 | Moon over Miami | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102161 | 4/3/1957 | One sweet letter from you | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102162 | 4/3/1957 | (I' ll be with you in) Apple blossom time | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102163 | 4/3/1957 | Somebody else is taking my place | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102888 | 7/15/1957 | How many? | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102889 | 7/15/1957 | Move it on over | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 102890 | 7/15/1957 | Rock the joint | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103635 | 11/8/1957 | Me rock-a-hula | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103636 | 11/8/1957 | Rockin' Rita | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103637 | 11/8/1957 | Jamaica D.J. | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103652 | 11/12/1957 | Piccadilly rock | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103653 | 11/12/1957 | Pretty alouette | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103654 | 11/12/1957 | Rockin' rollin' schnitzlebank | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103677 | 11/15/1957 | Rockin' Matilda (Waltzing Matilda) | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103678 | 11/15/1957 | Vive le rock and roll | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103725 | 11/19/1957 | It's a sin | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103726 | 11/19/1957 | Mary, Mary Lou | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103727 | 11/19/1957 | El rocko | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 103728 | 11/19/1957 | Come rock with me | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 104284 | 2/6/1958 | The walking beat | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 104285 | 2/6/1958 | Skinny Minnie | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 104286 | 2/6/1958 | Sway with me | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 104287 | 2/7/1958 | Lean jean | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 104288 | 2/7/1958 | Don't nobody move | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105063 | 6/3/1958 | Joey's song (stereo) ; Joey's song (mono) | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105064 | 6/3/1958 | Chiquita Linda (Un poquito de tu amor) | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105118 | 6/9/1958 | Dinah | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105119 | 6/9/1958 | Ida, sweet as apple cider | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105120 | 6/12/1958 | Whoa Mabel! | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105121 | 6/12/1958 | Marie | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105126 | 6/12/1958 | Eloise | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105127 | 6/12/1958 | Corrine, Corrina-1 ; Corrine, Corrina-2 | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105174 | 6/18/1958 | B.B. Betty | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105175 | 6/18/1958 | Sweet Sue, just you | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 105176 | 6/18/1958 | Charmaine | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 106322 | 1/7/1959 | The dragon rock | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 106323 | 1/7/1959 | A.B.C. rock-1 | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 106324 | 1/7/1959 | The cat walk (Instrumental) | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 106416 | 1/29/1959 | I got a woman | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 106417 | 1/29/1959 | (Now and then) There's a fool such as I | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 106418 | 1/29/1959 | Be by me | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 106419 | 1/29/1959 | Where did you go last night? | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 107440 | 4/27/1959 | Caldonia-1 | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 107441 | 4/27/1959 | Shaky (instr. ) | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 107643 | 6/19/1959 | Ooh! Look-a-there, ain't she pretty-1 | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 107644 | 6/19/1959 | (Thanks for the) Summer souvenir | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 108122 | 9/17/1959 | Puerto Rican peddler | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 108123 | 9/17/1959 | (Put another nickel in the jukebox) Music, music, music! | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 108124 | 9/23/1959 | Skokiaan | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 108125 | 9/23/1959 | Drowsy waters | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 108126 | 9/24/1959 | Two shadows | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 108127 | 9/24/1959 | In a little Spanish town ('Twas on a night like this) | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 108128 | 9/24/1959 | Strictly instrumental | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar | |||
| Decca | 108129 | 9/24/1959 | Mack the knife | Comets ; Bill Haley | instrumentalist, lead guitar |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Beecher, Franny," accessed April 24, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/303629.
Beecher, Franny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 24, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/303629.
"Beecher, Franny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 April 2024.
DAHR Persistent Identifier
External Sources
Wikipedia: Francis 'Franny' Beecher
Discogs: Franny Beecher
Allmusic: Franny Beecher
IMDb: Franny Beecher
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Beecher, Franny, 1921-2014 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2012077201
Wikidata: Francis 'Franny' Beecher - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q1445381
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/250854944
MusicBrainz: Francis 'Franny' Beecher - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/25c2b261-b518-483f-88c2-129617d707d7
ISNI: 0000 0003 7131 9644 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000371319644
Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license
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