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 101-114 of 114 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Columbia	W152430	10-in.	7/5/1933	Moonstruck	Irene Collins ; Fran Frey and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra]	Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	W152433	10-in.	7/5/1933	Learn to croon	Fran Frey and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra]	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	W152539	10-in.	10/27/1933	Puddin' Head Jones	Fran Frey and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra]	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	W152540	10-in.	10/27/1933	Build a little home	Ben Selvin and his Orchestra ; Irene Collins ; Fran Frey	Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	W152542	10-in.	10/27/1933	Sittin' on a log (Pettin' my dog)	Fran Frey and his Orchestra [Selvin's Orchestra]	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Columbia	W152549	10-in.	11/14/1933	Let's begin	Irene Collins ; Emil Coleman and his Riviera Orchestra ; Fran Frey	Jazz/dance band, with female-male vocal duet	vocalist, baritone vocal
OKeh	80054	10-in.	6/3/1926	You need someone to love	Melody Sheiks	Jazz/dance band	songwriter
Brunswick	13692-13694	10-in.	8/7/1924	Never gettin’ no place blues	Dixie Stars	Male vocal duet, with orchestra	composer
Brunswick	E37465	10-in.	12/16/1931	Crosby, Colombo and Vallee	Victor Young Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Brunswick	E37466	10-in.	12/16/1931	(Potatoes are cheaper, tomatoes are cheaper) Now’s the time to fall in love	Victor Young Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Brunswick	E3301-E3303	10-in.	6/26/1926	You need someone to love	Windsor Hotel Orchestra	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	songwriter
Brunswick	E3779-E3780	10-in.	9/16/1926	She’s a corn-fed Indiana girl	Bessie Coldiron	Female vocal solo, with piano	songwriter
Edison	11035	10-in.	6/9/1926	She's a corn-fed Indiana girl (But she's Mama to me)	Tom Howard ; Jazz Babies	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter
Edison	11173	10-in.	8/31/1926	You need someone to love	Arthur Fields ; Golden Gate Orchestra [California Ramblers]	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	songwriter

(Results 101-114 of 114 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Frey, Fran," accessed November 24, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

Frey, Fran. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

"Frey, Fran." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 November 2024.