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 26-50 of 114 records)

Company	Matrix No.	Size	First Recording Date	Title	Primary Performer	Description	Role
Victor	BVE-36910	10-in.	11/6/1926	Do-do-do	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-36953	10-in.	11/22/1926	Meadow lark	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-36954	10-in.	11/22/1926	I've got the girl!	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-37130	10-in.	12/13/1926	Ev'ry little while	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-37131	10-in.	12/13/1926	For you and me	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-37163	10-in.	12/21/1926	Sam, the old accordion man	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-37164	10-in.	12/21/1926	Thinking of you (I've grown so lonesome)	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-37549	10-in.	1/19/1927	Blue skies	Bob Borger ; Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music ; Bob Rice	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-37550	10-in.	1/19/1927	Where's that rainbow?	Bob Borger ; Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music ; Bob Rice	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-37741	10-in.	2/4/1927	At sundown (When love is calling me home)	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-37742	10-in.	2/4/1927	Somebody else	Bob Borger ; Fran Frey ; George Olsen and his Music ; Bob Rice	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-39471	10-in.	8/18/1927	Lucky in love	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-39472	10-in.	8/18/1927	Good news	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-39474	10-in.	8/19/1927	The varsity drag	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-40182	10-in.	10/14/1927	Blue baby (Why are you blue?)	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-40501	10-in.	10/21/1927	My heart stood still	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-40535	10-in.	11/1/1927	The song is ended (But the melody lingers on)	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal chorus	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-45182	10-in.	5/28/1928	Because my baby don't mean 'maybe' now!	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-45627	10-in.	6/12/1928	Pickin' cotton	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-45628	10-in.	6/12/1928	Old man sunshine (Little boy blue bird)	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-45641	10-in.	6/18/1928	American tune	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-45891	10-in.	7/19/1928	Ten little miles from town	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal trio	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-46600	10-in.	7/23/1928	King for a day	Fran Frey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-46601	10-in.	7/23/1928	Out of the dawn	Fran Frey	Male vocal solo, with orchestra	vocalist, baritone vocal
Victor	BVE-46955	10-in.	8/28/1928	Out of the tempest	George Olsen and his Music	Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo	vocalist, baritone vocal

(Results 26-50 of 114 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Frey, Fran," accessed November 21, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

Frey, Fran. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/100917.

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