Fran Frey

Fran Frey (December 23, 1903 in Indiana - December 1, 1962 in California) was a singer and saxophonist best known for his work for George Olsen and His Music in the 1920s and early 1930s. Among his better known songs are "The Varsity Drag" of 1927; "Big City Blues" of 1929, and "A Garden in the Rain", also of 1929. Frey sang on 77 songs with the George Olsen band on recordings and on the radio. "Who?" sold more than a million copies. Frey was heard on the Oldsmobile Program on CBS radio in 1933. Although he played for several other bands after Olsen's, including Victor Young's, he never achieved the level of fame he had in earlier years. Frey died of a heart attack in his home on December 2, 1962 at the age of 58. At the time of his death, he was writing music for the Ice Capades and for Columbia Pictures.

Birth and Death Data: Born December 23, 1903, Died December 1, 1962 (California)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1924 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: baritone vocal, songwriter, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-75 of 114 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-47511	10-in.	9/13/1928	Doin' the raccoon	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-47528	10-in.	9/18/1928	Where were you—where was I?	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-47802	10-in.	10/3/1928	Where the shy little violets grow	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-48438	10-in.	12/6/1928	Come west little girl, come west	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal quartet	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-49250	10-in.	12/11/1928	Makin' whoopee!	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-49251	10-in.	12/11/1928	Until you get somebody else	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-49625	10-in.	1/8/1929	When the world is at rest	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-49634	10-in.	1/11/1929	The Monte Carlo song	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-50963	10-in.	3/22/1929	Walking with Susie	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-50980	10-in.	3/27/1929	Dream mother	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-50981	10-in.	3/27/1929	A garden in the rain	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-50996	10-in.	4/1/1929	Breakaway	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-50997	10-in.	4/1/1929	Big city blues	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-51606	10-in.	4/4/1929	I'm in seventh heaven	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-51607	10-in.	4/4/1929	Little pal	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-51998	10-in.	5/13/1929	Reaching for someone (And not finding anyone there)	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-53529	10-in.	5/29/1929	Watcha want to make me love you for, baby	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band	composer, vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-53530	10-in.	5/29/1929	Or what have you	Fran Frey ; Ethel Shutta	Female-male vocal duet, with jazz/dance band	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	PBVE-54481	10-in.	10/27/1929	What do I care	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo (takes 4-6); with male vocal trio (takes 1-3)	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	PBVE-54482	10-in.	10/27/1929	South Sea Rose	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo (takes 4-6); with male vocal solo (takes 1-3)	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	PBVE-54519	10-in.	11/24/1929	Mona	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	PBVE-54621	10-in.	2/23/1930	When the little red roses get the blues for you	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	PBVE-54675	10-in.	3/7/1930	Sing a little theme song	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	PBVE-54800	10-in.	5/13/1930	Shoo the hoodoo away	Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	PBVE-54802	10-in.	5/13/1930	There's happiness over the hill	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with vocal chorus	vocalist, baritone vocal

(Results 51-75 of 114 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Frey, Fran," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

Frey, Fran. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

"Frey, Fran." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 21 November 2024.