Dale Frank's
Music of Beauty
. . .
Personal Statement from Dale
"In 1976, I lost the desire to create music. I knew how to create music but I didn’t know how to live. In 1994, due to a course of events and experiences, many of which I call miracles, I came back into music.
My purpose now is to create beautiful music both instrumentally and vocally that people of all ages and backgrounds will enjoy. I love the term “world music”; I hope my music reaches people all over the world."
About the Composer
Dale Frank was an amazing musician, trumpeter, songwriter, composer, arranger, with a heart of gold.
Dale earned a Bachelors Degree in Music from the University of Montana (1959-1963), Certificate in Composition and Arranging from the Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA (1963 – 1965), and did graduate work in Composition at UCLA in L.A., CA (Fall 1966).
His 2008 instrumental album 'Scatland Sketches' can be streamed via YouTube here, Spotify here (see embedded music player below too), and can also be streamed or purchased for download (MP3) via Amazon Music here.
Dale’s Body of Work
(1966-1968) Composer, arranger and conductor for the Bobby Bryant Jazz Band. One of the many pieces included a 3 movement composition by Dale, which was performed at the Monterey Festival in 1968.
(1969) commissioned by Hugh Masakella to compose for his Jazz Quartet and orchestra. Dale composed a three movement work based on traditional African folk songs for full symphonic orchestra and jazz quartet, which was performed by the Cincinnati Symphony under the direction of Eric Kunsel.
(1969 – 1971) Musical director for Jazz Singer Esther Phillips.
(1974 – 1975) Musical director for Latin Jazz Artist Willie Bobo
(1975) Dale worked on several projects as a string arranger for Wayne Henderson (of the Crusaders) who was producing for the jazz label Blue Note. The most well known was the Ronnie Laws album “Fever”.
(1973 – 1975) Dale had his own 23 piece jazz band which he composed and conducted all the music for. The band consisted of some of the greatest players in Los Angeles at the time such as: Dave Grusin, Mike Lang, Mark Anthony, Nick Ceroli, Johnny Garrnon, Bobby Bryant, Jay Daversa, Dalton Smith, Buddy Childers, Pete Christlieb, Ernie Watts, Don Mensa, Bill Perkins, Tom Scott, George Bohanan, and Frank Rossilino, to name a few.
[From Dale: "Many of these great musicians and artist have past away. Their spirits live on in me and I am sure many others."]
(1994) Dale returned to music with a new blues band that played periodically at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood.
(1997 – 1999) Dale formed a partnership with John Larkin, known as the artist “Scatman John”. They built a top of the line studio called Scatland. Studios. John past away in December 1999 at 57 years old. Dale’s first album 'Skatland Sketches' (released on CD Baby 2008) is dedicated to his dear friend.
(2001 – 2003) Dale met a Latin singer Nidia Torres and together they created a form of Latin music some of this was to be on his next album called 'A Latin Touch'. It was to be finished in the summer of 2008.
(2004 – August 2008) 1st instrumental album released on CD Baby January 2008. As of august 2008 he was working on 2nd album 'A Latin Touch' which was to be both vocal and instrumental.
Dale's Solo Album
'Scatland Sketches' © 2007 Dale Frank
'Scatland Sketches' is a collection of 13 instrumental Latin freestyle compositions created and performed by Dale Frank in the Los Angeles area. The album was produced by Dale and Heather Frank. The painting used in the cover art was created by Heather.
From Dale: "My music is beautiful and passionate, simple and complex. These instrumental compositions are designed to touch your heart and your imagination."
You can listen to the album on YouTube here, Spotify here, and Amazon Music here (stream, or purchase as MP3 download).
Dale's Collaborations
Here's the main page listing his credits: https://www.discogs.com/artist/678239-Dale-Frank?noanv=1
Links to some of the videos / audio
1. Willie Bobo - "Gotta Hustle On" (Year ?) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojDjOSK3b8w
2. Willie Bobo - "A Koko" (year ?) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qx698-RRXQ
- Arranged & Co-written by Dale Frank
(You can see Dale's name on the 45! This is going for about $65 bucks online)
3. Willie Bobo - "Fairy Tales for Two" (1978) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBRQNYU2UPQ
- Written and arranged by Dale Frank
4. Ronnie Laws - "Fever" (1976) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FYiJEoj3xg
5. Ronnie Laws - "Fever Jazz Funk" (1976) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzRMNQaJH64
6. Ronnie Laws - "Keep It Together" (1976) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Daw-W4O8Qk
- Arranged by Dale Frank
7. Monk Montgomery - "Big Boy" (1969) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP7LP2LgfEo
8. Monk Montgomery - "How High The Moon" (1969) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LeLfQVzUkQ
- Arranged by Dale Frank
9. Hugh Masekela - "Set Me Free" (1970) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqK6XRut2r8
10. Hugh Masekela - "Make Me A Potion" (1970) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dudxRo5HmL4
11. Hugh Masekela - "I Will" (1970) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBd6p-8OPxA
- Orchestration by Dale Frank
12. Tommy Butler - "Sign of Love" (1974) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZQJBmndcx8
13. Tommy Butler - "It's a Loving Baby" (1974) - https://youtu.be/AZSL9gymOKA
- Arranged By, Conductor, Producer, Trumpet - Dale Frank
- Backing Vocals - Roberta Frank
14. "Jazz in the Classroom - A Tribute to Oliver Nelson" (1963) Berklee Records - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8XWjWqfHv0
Trumpet
15. Side Effect - "Keep That Same Old Feeling" (1976) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhXt_J-6Ick
- Arranged by Dale Frank