Johnny Frigo
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| Johnny Frigo | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Johnny Frigo |
| Born | December 27, 1916 |
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | July 4, 2007 (aged 90) |
| Genre(s) | Jazz |
| Instrument(s) | violin, double bass |
| Label(s) | Arbors Records |
| Associated acts | Jimmy Dorsey Bucky Pizzarelli Jessica Molaskey Harold Fethe |
Johnny Frigo (December 27, 1916 – July 4, 2007) was an American jazz violinist and bassist.
Contents |
[edit] Early Life and career
Frigo was born in Chicago, Illinois, and studied violin for only 3 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. [1] 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.
[edit] Postwar career
After a brief turn at active service near the end of the war he toured with Jimmy Dorsey's band from 1945 to 1947 and formed the Soft Winds trio with guitarist Herb Ellis and pianist Lou Carter. During this time he wrote the music and words of the standard Detour Ahead, [1] which has been recorded by Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bill Evans, among others. He became a studio musician and recorded numerous commercials on upright and electric bass.
In the 1980s he started his career on violin after sitting in with Monty Alexander, Ray Brown, and Herb Ellis at Chicago's Jazz Showcase. He recorded with the trio on 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 "Because there won't be enough time left for me to become a has-been."[1]
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 composed and performed a version of the 1969 Chicago Cubs fight song "Hey Hey, Holy Mackerel". [1]
[edit] Family
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.[2]
[edit] Death
Johnny Frigo died at age 90 of complications from a fall. He had been battling cancer according to some reports of his death.
[edit] Select discography
[edit] Johnny Frigo albums
| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnny Frigo's DNA Exposed! | 2002-02-05 |
|
Arbors Records |
| Live at the Floating Jazz Festival | 1999-08-24 |
|
Chiaroscuro Records |
| Debut of a Legend | 1994-01-01 |
|
Chesky Records |
| Live from Studio A in New York City | 1988-11-16 |
|
Chesky Records |
| I Love John Frigo...He Swings | 1957-12-12 |
|
Mercury Records |
[edit] As guest or sideman
| Title | Release date | Artist | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| You're Getting Better: The Word Jazz Dot Masters | 2007-08-01 |
Box set |
Hip-O Records |
| Solitaire Miles | 2006-01-01 |
|
Seraphic Records |
| Quiet Village: The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny | 2006-11-21 |
|
Rev-Ola Records |
| Out of Nowhere | 2006-01-01 |
|
Southport Records |
| Keep the Coffee Coming | 2006-09-16 |
compilation |
FiveFour Records |
| Blue Suede Shoes: Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight | 2006-02-28 |
|
Bear Family |
| Simply...With Spirit | 2005-05-10 |
|
Arbors Records |
| Strange Weather | 2004-05-04 |
|
P.S. Classics |
| Multitude of Stars | 2004-06-08 |
|
Arbors Records |
| Hot Club of 52nd Street | 2004-05-25 |
|
Chesky Records |
| The Slightly Irreverent/Typical American Boys | 2003-10-07 |
2 in 1 |
Collectors' Choice Music |
| Singin' Our Mind/Reflectin' | 2004-05-25 |
2 in 1 |
Collectors' Choice Music |
| Legends | 2003-07-01 |
|
Arbors Records |
| Delicate Hour | 2003-01-07 |
|
Lml Music |
| Triple Scoop | 2002-03-26 |
|
Concord Records |
| Pentimento | 2002-06-04 |
|
P.S. Classics |
| Talkin' Verve | 2001-03-27 |
|
Polygram Records |
| RCA Country Legends | 2001-09-25 |
|
Buddha Records |
| Hoagy On My Mind | 2001-07-17 |
|
Jerome Records |
| Now and Then | 2001-01-01 |
|
Original Cast Record |
| Time, Seasons and the Moon | 2000-09-19 |
|
Southport Records |
| Little Things We Do Together | 2000-01-01 |
|
Spectrum Records |
| Round About | 1999-02-09 |
|
Fancy Faire |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
[edit] Sources
- Johnny Frigo website
- "Nice 'n' Easy Does It". Strings Magazine, March 1998 (interview with Matt Glaser).
