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 1-25 of 114 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-33337 10-in. 8/21/1925 I'm knee deep in daisies (And head over heels in love) George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-33832 10-in. 10/30/1925 Just a little thing called rhythm George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-33856 10-in. 11/6/1925 Who George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-33881 10-in. 11/17/1925 A little bit bad George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-34110 10-in. 12/1/1925 Miami George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-34333 10-in. 1/15/1926 She's a corn-fed Indiana girl (But she's mamma to me) George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet songwriter, vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-34353 10-in. 1/22/1926 Oh, how I've waited for you George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-34354 10-in. 1/22/1926 All for you George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-34601 10-in. 2/5/1926 Always George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-34606 10-in. 2/10/1926 Don't be afraid to come home George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band (takes 1-4); with male vocal duet (takes 6-8) vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-34624 10-in. 2/16/1926 Drifting and dreaming George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-34676 10-in. 3/4/1926 Horses George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo and monologue vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-35335 10-in. 4/22/1926 Just a little dance George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-35336 10-in. 4/22/1926 The girl friend George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-35607 10-in. 5/14/1926 Let's make up George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-35608 10-in. 5/14/1926 Hello, aloha! How are you? George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-35693 10-in. 6/16/1926 Bye bye blackbird George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-35731 10-in. 6/30/1926 Lucky day George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-35732 10-in. 6/30/1926 Katinka George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-35751 10-in. 7/8/1926 You need someone to love George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal, songwriter  
Victor BVE-35777 10-in. 7/16/1926 Where'd you get those eyes George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-35778 10-in. 7/16/1926 Hi-diddle-diddle George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-36882 10-in. 10/29/1926 Leander George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-36883 10-in. 10/29/1926 I never knew what the moonlight could do George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
Victor BVE-36909 10-in. 11/6/1926 I'm tellin' the birds, tellin' the bees (How I love you) George Olsen and his Music Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio vocalist, baritone vocal  
(Results 1-25 of 114 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Frey, Fran," accessed November 1, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

Frey, Fran. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 1, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

"Frey, Fran." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 1 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917

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