Johnny Frigo
Encyclopedia
Johnny Frigo was an American jazz
violin
ist and bassist
.
His son, Derek John Frigo, was the lead guitarist for the rock band Enuff Z'nuff
. Derek Frigo died of a drug overdose on May 28, 2004.
Johnny Frigo died at age 90 of complications from a fall. He had been battling cancer according to some reports of his death.
, Illinois
, and studied violin for only three years beginning at age 7. In high school he started to play double bass
in dance orchestras, and would continue his career as a bassist
for several decades. In 1942 he played with Chico Marx
's orchestra and did a comedy routine on violin with Marx on piano. He entered the United States Coast Guard
during World War II only to find himself playing in a band on Ellis Island
with Al Haig
and Kai Winding
.
After a brief turn at active service near the end of the war he moved to New Jersey. He toured with Jimmy Dorsey
's band from 1945 to 1947, later forming the Soft Winds trio with Dorsey's guitarist Herb Ellis
and pianist Lou Carter. During this time he wrote the music and words of the standard "Detour Ahead", which has been recorded by Billie Holiday
, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald
, Bill Evans
, and Carola among others.
In 1951 Frigo returned to Chicago, primarily working as a studio bassist and arranger. He also led the band at Mr. Kelly's, a popular Rush Street nightspot. Between 1951 and 1960 he played fiddle hoedowns and novelties with the Sage Riders, the house band for WLS
's long-running National Barn Dance
. He continued playing with the Sage Riders for another four years after WGN
revived the show in 1961.
In the mid-1980s Frigo largely abandoned playing bass to refocus on the violin. After sitting in with Monty Alexander
, Ray Brown
, and Herb Ellis
at Chicago's Jazz Showcase, Alexander invited him to join the trio for several upcoming live dates that produced Triple Treat II and Triple Treat III (Concord 1987). Johnny Carson once asked Frigo why it took so long to start his career as a violinist. Frigo replied "I wanna take as long as I could in my life so I wouldn't have time to become a has-been".
He performed as a jazz violinist at festivals worldwide, including the Umbria Jazz Festival
and North Sea Jazz Festival
. Frigo also was a published poet and artist. He wrote and performed the 1969 Chicago Cubs
fight song
"Hey Hey, Holy Mackerel."
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
.
His son, Derek John Frigo, was the lead guitarist for the rock band Enuff Z'nuff
Enuff Z'nuff
Enuff Z'Nuff, pronounced "enough's enough," is an American glam rock band from Blue Island, Illinois. Founded by singer Donnie Vie and bassist Chip Z'Nuff, this Chicago area band is best known for their charting singles "Fly High Michelle" and "New Thing." Enuff Z'Nuff has continually recorded and...
. Derek Frigo died of a drug overdose on May 28, 2004.
Johnny Frigo died at age 90 of complications from a fall. He had been battling cancer according to some reports of his death.
Biography
Frigo was born in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, and studied violin for only three years beginning at age 7. In high school he started to play double bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
in dance orchestras, and would continue his career as a bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for several decades. In 1942 he played with Chico Marx
Chico Marx
Leonard "Chico" Marx was an American comedian and film star as part of the Marx Brothers. His persona in the act was that of a dim-witted albeit crafty con artist, seemingly of rural Italian origin, who wore shabby clothes, and sported a curly-haired wig and Tyrolean hat.As the first-born of the...
's orchestra and did a comedy routine on violin with Marx on piano. He entered the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
during World War II only to find himself playing in a band on Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
with Al Haig
Al Haig
Alan Warren Haig was an American jazz pianist, best known as one of the pioneers of bebop.Haig was born in Newark, New Jersey...
and Kai Winding
Kai Winding
Kai Chresten Winding was a popular Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer. He is well known for a successful collaboration with fellow trombonist J. J. Johnson.-Biography:...
.
After a brief turn at active service near the end of the war he moved to New Jersey. He toured with Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey
James "Jimmy" Dorsey was a prominent American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, trumpeter, composer, and big band leader. He was known as "JD"...
's band from 1945 to 1947, later forming the Soft Winds trio with Dorsey's guitarist Herb Ellis
Herb Ellis
Mitchell Herbert "Herb" Ellis was an American jazz guitarist. Perhaps best known for his 1950s membership in the trio of pianist Oscar Peterson, Ellis was also a staple of west-coast studio recording sessions, and was described by critic Scott Yanow as "an excellent bop-based guitarist with a...
and pianist Lou Carter. During this time he wrote the music and words of the standard "Detour Ahead", which has been recorded by Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
, Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
, and Carola among others.
In 1951 Frigo returned to Chicago, primarily working as a studio bassist and arranger. He also led the band at Mr. Kelly's, a popular Rush Street nightspot. Between 1951 and 1960 he played fiddle hoedowns and novelties with the Sage Riders, the house band for WLS
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
's long-running National Barn Dance
National Barn Dance
National Barn Dance, broadcast by WLS-AM in Chicago, Illinois starting in 1924, was one of the first American country music radio programs and a direct precursor of the Grand Ole Opry...
. He continued playing with the Sage Riders for another four years after WGN
WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
revived the show in 1961.
In the mid-1980s Frigo largely abandoned playing bass to refocus on the violin. After sitting in with Monty Alexander
Monty Alexander
Monty Alexander is a jazz pianist and melodica player. His playing has a strong Caribbean influence and swinging feeling, but he has also been influenced by Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly, and Ahmad Jamal.-Biography:Alexander discovered the piano at the age of 4, taking classical music...
, Ray Brown
Ray Brown (musician)
Raymond Matthews Brown was an American jazz double bassist.-Biography:Ray Brown was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and had piano lessons from the age of eight. After noticing how many pianists attended his high school, he thought of taking up the trombone, but was unable to afford one...
, and Herb Ellis
Herb Ellis
Mitchell Herbert "Herb" Ellis was an American jazz guitarist. Perhaps best known for his 1950s membership in the trio of pianist Oscar Peterson, Ellis was also a staple of west-coast studio recording sessions, and was described by critic Scott Yanow as "an excellent bop-based guitarist with a...
at Chicago's Jazz Showcase, Alexander invited him to join the trio for several upcoming live dates that produced Triple Treat II and Triple Treat III (Concord 1987). Johnny Carson once asked Frigo why it took so long to start his career as a violinist. Frigo replied "I wanna take as long as I could in my life so I wouldn't have time to become a has-been".
He performed as a jazz violinist at festivals worldwide, including the Umbria Jazz Festival
Umbria Jazz Festival
The Umbria Jazz Festival is one of the most important jazz festivals in the world and has been held annually since 1973, usually in the month of July, in Perugia, Italy...
and North Sea Jazz Festival
North Sea Jazz Festival
The North Sea Jazz Festival is an annual jazz festival held each second weekend of July in the Netherlands at the Ahoy venue. It used to be in The Hague but since 2006 it has been held in Rotterdam...
. Frigo also was a published poet and artist. He wrote and performed the 1969 Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
"Hey Hey, Holy Mackerel."
As leader
| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jump Presents Johnny Frigo | 2009-06-02 | Frigo's last studio recording under his name and leadership. |
Jump Records |
| Summer Me! Johnny Frigo Live at Battle Ground Summer Me! Johnny Frigo Live at Battle Ground Summer Me! Johnny Frigo Live at Battle Ground is a 2008 compilation of Indiana Fiddlers' Gathering performances by jazz violinist Johnny Frigo recorded between 1994 and 1997... |
2008-07-24 | |
Log Cabin Records |
| Johnny Frigo's DNA Exposed! Johnny Frigo's DNA Exposed! Johnny Frigo's DNA Exposed! is the 2002 album by jazz violinist Johnny Frigo of jazz standards, accompanied by jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and others.- Track listing :#I Concentrate on You #Poor Butterfly #Cheek to Cheek... |
2002-02-05 | |
Arbors Records Arbors Records Arbors Records is an independent American jazz record label based in Clearwater, Florida. It was founded by the family team of Mat and Rachel Domber in 1989, initially devoted to the recordings of their friend Rick Fay.-History:... |
| Live at the Floating Jazz Festival Live at the Floating Jazz Festival Live at the Floating Jazz Festival is a 1999 release of the 1997 jazz festival of the same name by violinist Johnny Frigo and his quartet.- Track listing :#My Romance #Porgy and Bess Medley #My Favorite Things... |
1999-08-24 | |
Chiaroscuro Records |
| Debut of a Legend Debut of a Legend Debut of a Legend is a 1994 album by jazz violinist Johnny Frigo. Contrary to the title, it was his third album as a leader.- Track listing :# "Get Happy" – 4:33# "I'm Old Fashioned" – 4:03... |
1994-01-01 | |
Chesky Records Chesky Records Chesky Records is a record label aimed primarily at audiophiles. For the most part, jazz, Latin jazz, classical, and adult contemporary CDs and DVDs are produced, but they also manufacture high end audio equipment. The label was founded and is run by grammy nominated composer David Chesky and his... |
| Live from Studio A in New York City Live from Studio A in New York City Live from Studio A in New York City was Johnny Frigo's second album as leader, in 1988, though this was the one that more or less launched his career . Joining him are son and father jazz guitarists John Pizzarelli and Bucky Pizzarelli... |
1988-11-16 | SACD: SACD264 |
Chesky Records |
| I Love John Frigo...He Swings I Love John Frigo...He Swings I Love John Frigo...He Swings was the debut album of jazz violinist Johnny Frigo for Mercury Records, though the album was more or less not noticed by the public upon release... |
1957-12-12 | CD: Verve 145602 |
Mercury Records Mercury Records Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal... |
As sideman
| Title | Release date | Artist | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| You're Getting Better: The Word Jazz Dot Masters | 2007-08-01 | Ken Nordine Ken Nordine is an American voiceover and recording artist best known for his series of Word Jazz albums. His deep, resonant voice has also been featured in many commercial advertisements and movie trailers. One critic wrote that "you may not know Ken Nordine by name or face, but you'll almost... Box set |
Hip-O Records Hip-O Records Hip-O Records is a record label, currently part of Universal Music Group, which specializes in reissues and compilations. Their Hip-O Select label is currently in the midst of releasing the Complete Motown Singles, a series of fourteen box sets which include both sides of every 45 from Motown... |
| Solitaire Miles | 2006-01-01 | |
Seraphic Records |
| Quiet Village: The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny | 2006-11-21 | Martin Denny Martin Denny was an American piano-player and composer best known as the "father of exotica." In a long career that saw him performing well into his 80s, he toured the world popularizing his brand of lounge music which included exotic percussion, imaginative rearrangements of popular songs, and... |
Rev-Ola Records Rev-Ola Records Rev-Ola Records is a UK record label formed in 1988 that specializes in reissues, as well as select new releases. The label is headed by Joe Foster, a former child actor and musician/producer... |
| Out of Nowhere Out of Nowhere (Harold Fethe album) Out of Nowhere is the debut album of jazz guitarist Harold Fethe, who performs on this outing in the style of Django Reinhardt. Accompanying him is the legendary Johnny Frigo on violin, who like Fethe got a late start with his own career.- Track listing :... |
2006-01-01 | Harold Fethe Harold Fethe is a professional jazz guitarist in San Francisco, California who began his recording career later than most. For more than two decades he worked in biotechnology instead, but decided in 2002 to give that up and become a full time musician. He has recorded on the albums of others in... |
Southport Records |
| Keep the Coffee Coming | 2006-09-16 | Anita O'Day Anita O'Day was an American jazz singer.Born Anita Belle Colton, O'Day was admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances shattered the traditional image of the "girl singer"... compilation |
FiveFour Records |
| Blue Suede Shoes: Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight | 2006-02-28 | Pee Wee King Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski , known professionally as Pee Wee King, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist best known for co-writing "The Tennessee Waltz".... |
Bear Family |
| Simply...With Spirit | 2005-05-10 | |
Arbors Records Arbors Records Arbors Records is an independent American jazz record label based in Clearwater, Florida. It was founded by the family team of Mat and Rachel Domber in 1989, initially devoted to the recordings of their friend Rick Fay.-History:... |
| Strange Weather | 2004-05-04 | Jack Donahue Jack Donohue was a bushranger in Australia. He had numerous ballads written about him, including Bold Jack Donahue.Jack Donahue was born in Dublin in 1806... |
P.S. Classics |
| Multitude of Stars | 2004-06-08 | |
Arbors Records Arbors Records Arbors Records is an independent American jazz record label based in Clearwater, Florida. It was founded by the family team of Mat and Rachel Domber in 1989, initially devoted to the recordings of their friend Rick Fay.-History:... |
| Hot Club of 52nd Street Hot Club of 52nd Street Hot Club of 52nd Street is a live Jazz quartet album co-led by guitarists Bucky Pizzarelli and Howard Alden in tribute to Django Reinhardt, released on May 25, 2004.... |
2004-05-25 | Bucky Pizzarelli John Paul "Bucky" Pizzarelli is an American Jazz guitarist and banjoist, and the father of jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and upright bassist Martin Pizzarelli. Pizzarelli has also worked for NBC as a staffman for Dick Cavett and also ABC with Bobby Rosengarden in... & Howard Alden Howard Alden Howard Alden is an American jazz guitarist born in Newport Beach, California. He has recorded a long series of albums for Concord Records. His performances were dubbed over Sean Penn as 'Emmet Ray' in the 1999 Woody Allen film Sweet and Lowdown... |
Chesky Records Chesky Records Chesky Records is a record label aimed primarily at audiophiles. For the most part, jazz, Latin jazz, classical, and adult contemporary CDs and DVDs are produced, but they also manufacture high end audio equipment. The label was founded and is run by grammy nominated composer David Chesky and his... |
| The Slightly Irreverent/Typical American Boys | 2003-10-07 | 2 in 1 |
Collectors' Choice Music Collectors' Choice Music Collectors' Choice Music is a company primarily in two businesses. They are best known for re-issuing albums originally recorded in LP record form as compact discs... |
| Singin' Our Mind/Reflectin' | 2004-05-25 | 2 in 1 |
Collectors' Choice Music |
| Legends | 2003-07-01 | Skitch Henderson Lyle Russell Cedric “Skitch” Henderson was a pianist, conductor, and composer. His nickname reportedly derived from his ability to quickly "re-sketch" a song in a different key.- Biography :... & Bucky Pizzarelli Bucky Pizzarelli John Paul "Bucky" Pizzarelli is an American Jazz guitarist and banjoist, and the father of jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and upright bassist Martin Pizzarelli. Pizzarelli has also worked for NBC as a staffman for Dick Cavett and also ABC with Bobby Rosengarden in... |
Arbors Records Arbors Records Arbors Records is an independent American jazz record label based in Clearwater, Florida. It was founded by the family team of Mat and Rachel Domber in 1989, initially devoted to the recordings of their friend Rick Fay.-History:... |
| Delicate Hour | 2003-01-07 | |
Lml Music |
| Triple Scoop | 2002-03-26 | Monty Alexander Monty Alexander is a jazz pianist and melodica player. His playing has a strong Caribbean influence and swinging feeling, but he has also been influenced by Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Wynton Kelly, and Ahmad Jamal.-Biography:Alexander discovered the piano at the age of 4, taking classical music... |
Concord Records Concord Records Concord Records is a U.S. record label now based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his... |
| Pentimento | 2002-06-04 | Jessica Molaskey Jessica Molaskey is a professional singer of torch songs and show tunes. She has appeared in a dozen Broadway shows such as the revival of Sunday in the Park With George and Cats and has premiered theater pieces off-Broadway, including the Jason Robert Brown 1995 musical Songs for a New World, and... |
P.S. Classics |
| Talkin' Verve | 2001-03-27 | Buddy Greco -Biography:He was born Armando Greco in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Greco began playing piano at the age of four. His first professional work was playing with Benny Goodman's band. Most of Greco's work has been in the jazz and pop genres... |
Polygram Records |
| RCA Country Legends | 2001-09-25 | Skeeter Davis Mary Frances Penick , better known as Skeeter Davis, was an American country music singer best known for crossover pop music songs of the early 1960s. She started out as part of The Davis Sisters as a teenager in the late 1940s, eventually landing on RCA Records. In the late '50s, she became a solo... |
Buddah Records Buddah Records Buddah Records was founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's founding... |
| Hoagy on My Mind | 2001-07-17 | |
Jerome Records |
| Now and Then | 2001-01-01 | Claiborne Cary Claiborne Cary was an American actress and cabaret performer.Cary was born Claiborne Leachman in Lone Tree, Iowa, and raised in Des Moines. The younger sister of actress Cloris Leachman, Cary began dancing and performing at a young age... |
Original Cast Record |
| Time, Seasons and the Moon | 2000-09-19 | |
Southport Records |
| Little Things We Do Together | 2000-01-01 | Anne Pringle Dame Anne Fyfe Pringle DCMG is a British diplomat and current HM Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Russian Federation.From 2001 to 2004, Pringle was the British ambassador to the Czech Republic... & Mark Burnell |
Spectrum Records |
| Round About | 1999-02-09 | |
Fancy Faire |