Jazz trombonist Frank Rosolino at the Village Jazz Lounge in
Walt Disney World, July 1978 (center)
Frank Rosolino (August 20, 1926 - November 26, 1978) was an American jazz trombonist.
Biography
Born in Detroit, Michigan, in a family that included brothers Russell and Gasper, Rosolino studied the guitar with his father starting at age 9. Frank took up the trombone at age 14, and graduated from Miller High School, while playing in the Cass Tech Symphony Orchestra, a fine music program that also produced Donald Byrd. Following service in the U.S. Army's 86th Division during World War II, he played with the big bands of Bob Chester, Glen Gray, Tony Pastor, Herbie Fields, and Gene Krupa. He became famous during a stint in the most popular of Stan Kenton's progressive big bands, (1952-1954), and settled in Los Angeles, where he worked with everybody in the business: Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars (1954-1960), Terry Gibbs, Shorty Rogers, Benny Carter, Buddy Rich, Dexter Gordon, Carl Fontana, Jean "Toots" Thielemans, Stan Levey, Shelly Manne, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Knight, Conte Candoli, Med Flory, Donn Trenner, Mel Tormé, Louis Bellson, Marty Paich, Zoot Sims, Quincy Jones, and Tutti Camarata. He attempted to maintain his popularity in the 1970s through high-profile associations with non-jazz bands, including Tower of Power and Brass Machine, but most fans remember this period in his career through his association with Med Flory's Supersax. It was also during this time that Frank went on a very successful tour in Japan with Supersax. During the late 50s he participated in various Stan Kenton road tours which also included the Four Freshman and a jocular stage-rivalry as to who was the better trombonist between the Freshmen's Bob Flanigan and Rosolino became part of the act and a delight to all involved.
Rosolino was also a talented vocalist, renowned for his wild form of scat-singing. He recorded one vocal album, Turn Me Loose!, featuring both his singing and trombone playing. During his first tour with the Gene Krupa aggregation he recorded under the name of "Frankie Ross" his soon to be bop powerhouse, Lemon Drop. He often sang novelty songs on The Tonight Show and the second Steve Allen Show, produced for Westinghouse. He was also featured singing and playing in an episode of the Allen-produced half-hour syndicated program The Jazz Scene, hosted by Oscar Brown, Jr..
Frank's third wife, and the mother of their two sons, committed suicide in February 1972 in Los Angeles, California. He died in 1978 in Van Nuys, California, after a shooting which also included shooting both sons, Justin, 9, and Jason, 7. Jason survived, blinded, and was adopted by his mother's cousin, Claudia Eien, and her husband Gary. Jason is doing well and now resides in California and is a very talented musician.
The International Trombone Association established its first award for jazz trombone in Frank's memory, and he continues to be remembered as one of the greatest jazz trombone players of all time.
Discography
- New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm (Capitol Jazz CDP 7 92865 2),1952
- The Frank Rosolino Sextet (LP only - Affinity - AFF61), 1954
- I Play Trombone, 1956
- Free for All (Specialty - OJCCD - 1763 -2[SP-2161]), 1958
- Turn Me Loose, 1961
- Fond Memories of Frank, 1996
- Thinking About You, 1976
- Trombone Heaven ("Live" in Vancouver), 1978
- Frank Talks, 1998
- Complete Recordings of the Frank Rosolino Quartet featuring Sonny Clark, 2005
- Last Recording, 2006
- Let's Make It - Frank Rosolino Quintet, 2008
AS A SIDEMAN
- Zoot SIMS & Frank ROSOLINO (Vogue VG 655622), 1953
- Benny Carter-Jazz Giant, 1957
- The Music of Bob Cooper - Coop! (Contemporary - OJCCD-161-2[C-7544]), 1958
- Stan Levey - Stanley the Steamer (Affinity - CD AFF 768)
- Tutti's Trombones (Bainbridge - BCD2049), 1970
- Conversation (RCA TPL1-1509[LP only]), 1973
- June Christy 1977 (Storyville/ STCD 4168), 1977
- First Flight - Don Menza with Alan Broadbent, Frank Strazzeri and others, 1977
- Supersax
OTHER ALBUMS
- Trombomania! (Affinity CD AFF 761)[dual set with Kai Winding/JJ Johnson],1956
- This One's for Basie - Buddy Rich and his Orchestra (Verve -817 788-2), 1956
- Helen Humes - 'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do (Contemporary/OJCCD-453-2[S-7571]), 1959
- Mel Torme - Torme(Verve 823 010-2)
- Mel Torme Swings Shubert Alley (Verve - 821 581-2)
- Mel Torme - The Duke Ellington and Count Basie Songbooks (Verve 823 248-2)
On DVD
- Jazz Scene USA (Hosted by Oscar Brown, Jr.) 1962
External links
