Barry Frank
Barry Frank (born September 1930) was a hit smooth-voiced 1950s and early 1960s pop and rock and roll vocalist who was professionally recorded on 78s, 45s, 33s, and many extended play long play albums for Bell, Columbia, Jubilee, Seeco and other record companies in the United States and Europe. In many cases, Frank covered recordings debuted by other artists, and Frank's talented vocals won acclaim as being far better than the original artists who performed them. These included songs like 'Party Doll', 'Earth Angel' and 'The Great Pretender'. Frank rose to fame as the lead singer of the Sammy Kaye Orchestra.
Although his hit recording career did not lead to permanent stardom, Frank continued performing. For many decades, he was Master of Ceremonies of the Raleigh Hotel, in South Fallsburg, New York, from the 1970s through the 2000s (when the hotel closed) and also performed as a singer at other Catskills resorts on off nights. He is now retired and lives in New York City. He has a son, Todd Frank.
Some recordings by Frank are now considered collector's items by collectors of the era.
Contents
Selected recordings
Hit albums on the Columbia label
- Serenade of the Bells (with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra)
- Merry Christmas to You (with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra)
Sampling of Barry Frank recordings for the Bell label
- A Rose and a Big Baby Ruth – 1956[1]
- Banana Boat Song – 1957[1]
- Diana – 1957[1]
- Hold Me in Your Arms (with Sid Feller) – 1954 and 1955[1]
- Earth Angel (with The Four Bells) – 1955[1]
- If I Give My Heart to You (with the Larry Clinton Orchestra) – 1954[1]
- Jamaican Farewell
- Ko Ko Mo (I Love You So) (with The Four Bells) – 1955[1]
- Love Me
- My Special Angel
- Party Doll – 1957[1]
- Smile
- The Great Pretender
- The Moonlight Gambler
- The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane
- Too Much
- Wake Up Little Susie – 1957[1]
- Why Do Fools Fall in Love? – 1956[1]
- You Send Me
- Young Love
Sampling of Barry Frank recordings for Columbia Recordings
- Cathedral in the Pines (with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra)
- Del Rio (with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra)
- My Prayer (with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra)
- Serenade of the Bells (with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra)
- The Shrine of St. Cecilia (with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra)
- When The Organ Played at Twilight (with the Sammy Kaye Orchestra)
