Frenesí

"Frenesí" is a musical piece originally composed by Alberto Domínguez for the marimba, and adapted as a jazz standard by Leonard Whitcup and others. The word frenesí is the Spanish equivalent of "frenzy".

Number 1 hit by Artie Shaw

A hit version recorded by Artie Shaw (with an arrangement by William Grant Still) reached number one on the Billboard pop chart on December 21, 1940.

Cover versions

Other performers who have recorded the song include Les Brown, Dave Brubeck, June Christy, Betty Carter, Tommy Dorsey, The Four Freshmen, Eydie Gorme, Woody Herman, Earl Hines, Harry James, Ben E. King, Steve Lawrence, Billy May, Glenn Miller, Anita O'Day, Perez Prado, Cliff Richard, Linda Ronstadt, Jack Emblow, Pat Suzuki, Frank Sinatra, Three X Sisters vocals with the Watson Orchestra, and Caterina Valente.

World War II flying ace Major Thomas Hayes named his P-51 Frenesi after the song.^[1] He said it was a tribute to his wife Louise, for the song they listened to; he believed the song's name translated as "Love Me Tenderly".

Thomas Pynchon's 1990 novel Vineland features a character named Frenesi Gates.

See also

• List of 1930s jazz standards
• List of number-one singles of 1940 (U.S.)
• List of number-one singles of 1941 (U.S.)

References