Frank Scott (musician)
Encyclopedia
Frank Scott was an American musician and arranger that was a member of the Lawrence Welk
orchestra. His instruments were the piano
and the harpsichord
.
Born in Fargo, North Dakota
; he first took up the piano at age eight, and by the time he was twelve, he led his first band and started to arrange songs. He originally attended North Dakota Agricultural College
after high school, but after a year he left when he decided to pursue a career in music. He was the music director at radio station WDAY
in Fargo from 1944 to 1956 where he scored over 2,500 arrangements for the station while composing music for community theater groups and conducting local ice shows.
In 1956, bandleader Lawrence Welk asked him to join his orchestra and his nationwide television show. He appeared on the The Lawrence Welk Show
playing piano and harpsichord during his tenure on the show until 1969. He also worked behind the scenes of the Welk show as an arranger, assisted the production staff and furnished programming ideas. Scott also arranged thousands of songs and recorded albums in his own right for Coral
and Dot Records
. He left the show and then moved back to Fargo with his wife, where he continued to work in music, organized a big band, and taught a course at North Dakota State University
for a year plus continued to arrange music.
By the late 1970s, he moved back to California
and formed his own orchestra
, which he led until he died in October 1995. By that time, he lived in Palm Desert
and had arranged over 7,000 songs in his entire career.
Scott was married to his first wife, Janette Daniels Scott from 1940 until her death in 1979; they had four children, Douglas, Sally, Todd and Frank lll. His second wife, Audrey Roseland, worked for Scott when they were at WDAY in Fargo during the 1940s. They were married from 1993 until his death.
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
orchestra. His instruments were the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and the harpsichord
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
.
Born in Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
; he first took up the piano at age eight, and by the time he was twelve, he led his first band and started to arrange songs. He originally attended North Dakota Agricultural College
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
after high school, but after a year he left when he decided to pursue a career in music. He was the music director at radio station WDAY
WDAY-AM
WDAY is North Dakota's first and oldest radio station, having signed on in 1922. It is an affiliate of the ABC Radio Network. Its parent company, Forum Communications, also owns ABC affiliate WDAY-TV 6 and The Forum newspaper in Fargo...
in Fargo from 1944 to 1956 where he scored over 2,500 arrangements for the station while composing music for community theater groups and conducting local ice shows.
In 1956, bandleader Lawrence Welk asked him to join his orchestra and his nationwide television show. He appeared on the The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show
The Lawrence Welk Show is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk. The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years , then nationally for another 27 years via the ABC network and first-run syndication .In the years since first-run syndication...
playing piano and harpsichord during his tenure on the show until 1969. He also worked behind the scenes of the Welk show as an arranger, assisted the production staff and furnished programming ideas. Scott also arranged thousands of songs and recorded albums in his own right for Coral
Coral Records
Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly....
and Dot Records
Dot Records
Dot Records was an American record label and company that was active between 1950 and 1977. It was founded by Randy Wood. In Gallatin, Tennessee, Wood had earlier started a mail order record shop, known for its radio ads on WLAC in Nashville and its R&B air personality Bill "Hoss" Allen...
. He left the show and then moved back to Fargo with his wife, where he continued to work in music, organized a big band, and taught a course at North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, more commonly known as North Dakota State University , is a public university in Fargo, North Dakota. NDSU has about 14,000 students and it is the largest university in North Dakota based on full time students and land size...
for a year plus continued to arrange music.
By the late 1970s, he moved back to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and formed his own orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
, which he led until he died in October 1995. By that time, he lived in Palm Desert
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
and had arranged over 7,000 songs in his entire career.
Scott was married to his first wife, Janette Daniels Scott from 1940 until her death in 1979; they had four children, Douglas, Sally, Todd and Frank lll. His second wife, Audrey Roseland, worked for Scott when they were at WDAY in Fargo during the 1940s. They were married from 1993 until his death.