Sonny Dallas

Francis Dominic Joseph Dallas (October 27, 1931 – July 22, 2007), also known as Frank "Sonny" Dallas, was an American jazz bassist and singer.

Born in Rankin, Pennsylvania, Dallas studied bass with Herman Clements, principal bassist of the Pittsburgh Symphony, who also taught jazz bassists Ray Brown and Paul Chambers, and by the mid 1950s, was working with bandleaders Charlie Spivak, Ray Eberle, and Claude Thornhill.

Moving to New York in 1955, he began performing and recording with the likes of Sal Salvador, Tony Scott, Chet Baker and Buck Clayton, Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh, Phil Woods, Gene Quill, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Elvin Jones, Mary Lou Williams, Bill Evans, George Wallington, Jackie Paris and Lennie Tristano, with whom he was most closely associated.

Moving to Long Island in the late 1960s, he obtained a Master of Arts degree in music education and began teaching at both Suffolk County Community College and Dowling College.

Down Beat listed Sonny Dallas as one of the top ten greatest jazz bassists.

Dallas died of heart failure in Long Island, New York. Survived by two daughters, Deborah Marko of North Braddock, Pennsylvania, and Elizabeth Dallas of New York; a son, Robert Dallas of Frederick, Maryland.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 27, 1931, Died July 22, 2007 (Long Island)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1960

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass

= 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 108620 1/25/1960 Calypso time Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108621 1/25/1960 A gal in calico cha cha Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108622 1/25/1960 Venice anyone Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108623 1/25/1960 Satin doll Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108624 1/29/1960 The Continental Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108625 1/29/1960 I concentrate on you Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108626 1/29/1960 But beautiful Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108627 1/29/1960 The dancing beat Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108628 1/29/1960 Bleecker Street blues Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108629 2/1/1960 That old feeling Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108630 2/1/1960 The mad pad Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108631 2/1/1960 I'm glad there is you Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108644 2/1/1960 To beat or not to beat Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 108645 2/1/1960 Secret love Sal Salvador instrumentalist, string bass  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dallas, Sonny," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/310757.

Dallas, Sonny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/310757.

"Dallas, Sonny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/310757

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