| |
| Johnny Frigo |
 Born in the windy city on December 27, 1916, John Virgil Frigo began playing the violin in elementary school but switched to a tuba in junior high when it was the only band instrument available. In high school, the tuba proved particularly unromantic, so he found an old string bass and for the next fifty years made most of his living and reputation on that instrument. After a theater tour with the Chico Marx Orchestra (between movies), a stint in the Coast Guard in World War II, a shot on Major Bowes Amateur Hour (losing to a contestant playing the musical saw), and playing with Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Johnny co-founded The Soft Winds, a delightful instrumental and vocal trio with pianist Lou Carter and guitarist Herb Ellis. Johnny''s composition Detour Aheadreceived high accolades, yet Johnny credits lyrics and music to Lou Carter for his invaluable assistance and Herb Ellis for his respective recordings and concerts. I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out!, was a group collaboration which also met with much success. Johnny returned to Chicago in the early ''50s and became a first call studio bassist for the next thirty five years, performing and composing countless jingles, and writing the Chicago Cubs official theme, Hey, Hey, Holy Mackerel. His commercial work earned him a Chicago Emmy Award as best lyricist for radio and television commercials. Soon he established himself as the musician who played on more commercials on both upright and electric bass than any bassist in the world. Outside the studios, he kept performing at such notable clubs as the Lei Aloha (with pianist Dick Marx and vocalist Lucy Reed), the Beehive, the Blue Note and especially Mister Kelly''s, where he, pianist Dick Reynolds and son Rick accompanied all the great performers: Billie Holiday, Barbara Streisand, Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen and many more. The turning point was a long feature story with pictures in the Los Angeles Times written by jazz critic and author Leonard Feather, followed by a rave review by the Time''s jazz critic Don Heckman. Both articles caught the eyes of the Tonight Show''s producers who immediately booked him. At the age of 72, his violin playing and humor were spotlighted in two Tonight Show appearances with Johnny Carson. When Carson asked Johnny why it took him so long to get his career started, caught off guard, Johnny replied, "I wanna take as long as I could in my life so I wouldn''t have time to become a has been, Johnny". Now this warm hearted man is basking in the attention he so rightly deserves. In addition to his music, Johnny is also an artist and composes poetry and crossword puzzles. A book of his poetry and pastel drawings titled When My Fiddle''s in the Case has just been published. "I''m in love with all things. Jazz is a part of what I do, but my life is much more than just that." Not surprisingly, he has since delighted audiences and critics worldwide playing the violin with the sort of musical sensitivity and expertise that only artistry and experience can engender. |
| |
|