Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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FROEBA, Frankie

(b Aug. '07, New Orleans LA; d 18 Feb. '81, Miami FL) Piano. Father played piano; worked age 15 solo, in groups, as theatre pianist. To NYC '24; led own bands in Atlantic City; with various bands late '20s--early '30s incl. Enoch Light, Irving Aaronson; part of early Benny Goodman lineup on Let's Dance radio show '34--5. Recorded on Columbia records '35--6, sidemen incl. Bunny Berigan, Joe Marsala, Cozy Cole, etc. Residency New York 18 Club '35--44; also led swing band dates for Decca with Bobby Hackett, Buddy Morrow, etc. Played clubs '40s, mainly solo; also on radio, especially WNEW '41 through early '50s. Made pseudo-ragtime 'honky-tonk' fad records mid-'50s (see also Lou Busch, Dick Hyman); after '55 mostly solo in Miami area. Compositions incl. 'It All Begins And Ends With You' '36, 'The Jumpin' Jive' '39. FROGGATT, Raymond (b 13 Nov. '41, Birmingham, England). British country singer-songwriter who developed his own style in mid-'70s owing little to American styles. Brought up in a single-parent household after his father was killed in WWII; worked in various jobs incl. pipelaying, sheet metal and boiler insulator. Formed band Monopoly in early '60s and signed to Polydor Records: self-penned song 'Red Balloon' gained extensive radio plays, but poor distribution hampered sales, while the Dave Clarke Five covered it and took it top five; it was also a hit in France by Marie Laforet. Froggatt went solo, signed writer's contract and had songs covered by Cliff Richard, Shirley Bassey etc. Signed to Bell Records '72 and released first album Bleach. Failing to make an impact he joined Don Arden's Darbilt company; album Rogues And Thieves was leased to Reprise. Then he was launched on country scene with album Southern Fried Frog, recorded in Nashville with producer Larry Butler. Played the Tulsa Country Festival to wide acclaim, returned to England to play Wembley Country Festival '78 for lukewarm reception. Continued to play to country audiences, supporting American acts like Hoyt Axton, Tammy Wynette and Billie Jo Spears, performing his own songs. Eventually broke into the country club circuit and built up a following that made him the biggest British country star of late '80s, but failed to cross over. Wrote autobiography Raymond Who '92, and toured smaller provincial theatres. Albums incl. Voice And Writing Of Raymond Froggatt '69 (Polydor), Conversations '79 (Jet), Here's To Everyone '93 and Someday '95 (Red Balloon).