Frank Comstock

Frank Comstock

Frank G. Comstock (September 20, 1922 – May 21, 2013) was an American composer, arranger, conductor, and trombonist. For television, Comstock wrote and arranged music for major situation comedies and variety shows; his theme and incidental music for Rocky and His Friends (1959–1964) are probably his best-remembered works. Additionally, his music for Adam-12 earned him a 1971 Emmy nomination. Comstock's recording credits include eight Hi-Lo's albums and backing arrangements for major recording stars. His 1962 instrumental album, Project: Comstock - Music from Outer Space became a classic and was released on CD in 2004. Recently, Comstock wrote new big-band arrangements for Brian Setzer's Wolfgang's Big Night Out (2007) and Songs from Lonely Avenue (2009) CDs. He started his arranging career in the dance bands of Sonny Dunham and Benny Carter, and with Les Brown from 1943 to 1955. When dance bands fell out of favor after World War II, Comstock and Doris Day left the Les Brown band. Comstock's backing arrangements for Doris Day's Warner Brothers screen tests impressed studio executives and resulted in a staff arranger position at Warner where he demonstrated his ability to write for large studio orchestras. He died in 2013.

Birth and Death Data: Born September 20, 1922 (San Diego), Died May 21, 2013 (Huntington Beach)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1947 - 1959

Roles Represented in DAHR: arranger, leader

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 84 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	D7VB-0520	10-in.	4/24/1947	Take the A train	Delta Rhythm Boys	Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	D7VB-0521	10-in.	4/24/1947	St. Louis blues	Delta Rhythm Boys	Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	D7VB-0522	10-in.	4/24/1947	One o'clock jump	Delta Rhythm Boys	Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	D7VB-0523	10-in.	4/24/1947	Dry bones	Delta Rhythm Boys	Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	D7VB-0543	10-in.	5/15/1947	East of the sun and west of the moon	Delta Rhythm Boys	Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	D7VB-0544	10-in.	5/15/1947	September song	Delta Rhythm Boys	Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	D7VB-0545	10-in.	5/15/1947	Ev'ry time we say goodbye	Delta Rhythm Boys	Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	D7VB-0546	10-in.	5/15/1947	If you are but a dream	Delta Rhythm Boys	Male vocal quartet, with jazz/dance band	leader
Victor	D7VB-0574	10-in.	6/29/1947	My future just passed	Delta Rhythm Boys ; Frank Comstock Orchestra	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Victor	D7VB-0575	10-in.	6/29/1947	Every so often	Delta Rhythm Boys ; Frank Comstock Orchestra	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Victor	D7VB-0576	10-in.	6/29/1947	Come in out of the rain	Delta Rhythm Boys ; Frank Comstock Orchestra	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Victor	D7VB-0577	10-in.	6/29/1947	I'm in love with a gal (who's in love with a guy who looks like me but ain't)	Delta Rhythm Boys ; Frank Comstock Orchestra	Male vocal quartet, with instrumental ensemble	leader
Decca	83098		7/18/1952	Blue skies-1	The Ames Brothers ; Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	84033		3/2/1953	Ruby-1	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	84034		3/2/1953	Midnight sun-1	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	86005		between 9/4/1953 and 9/20/1953	Happy hooligan	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	86006		between 9/4/1953 and 9/20/1953	Caravan-3	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	86009		between 9/4/1953 and 9/20/1953	I let a song go out of my heart-3	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	86011		between 9/4/1953 and 9/20/1953	Crazy legs-3	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	86017		between 9/4/1953 and 9/20/1953	Cherokee-3	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	86020		between 9/4 and 9/20/1953	Rain-3	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	86023		between 9/4/1953 and 9/20/1953	Jersey bounce-3	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	86024		between 9/4/1953 and 9/20/1953	Laura-3	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	86026		between 9/4/1953 and 9/20/1953	Speak low-3	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger
Decca	86027		between 9/4/1953 and 9/20/1953	Midnight sun-3	Les Brown and his Band of Renown		arranger

(Results 1-25 of 84 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Comstock, Frank," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/309329.

Comstock, Frank. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/309329.

"Comstock, Frank." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.