frank tarantino jr: Bio

frank tarantino jr

November 20 2007
So much has happened in the last 2 years. The "Let Me Be Frank" Cd is 2 years old, I have left my day job for 6 months. Gigs have taken on a completely different feel
and meaning and not only for me but the whole group.
We have become a regular at The Paramount Restaurant in Grafton Wi. www.theparamountrestaurant.com check them out! They are WONDERFUL and the Deep Blues History is amassing!
Another GREAT PLACE is Allegro Martini Bar & Eatery! In Theinsville Wi. www.allegrotonight.com We are there 1 Saturday per-month and I do a solo bass violin gig 1 Wednesday a month (Lady's Night)
We perform every Friday at a wonderful privet country club, we have been there now some 15 months and the whole staff, wait, buss, kitchen, the valet, the grounds crew, office staff and administration treat us as family. The members are warm and gracious...we have truly been blessed.
So THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL!

frank tarantino jr

RECORDING NEW CD!!! - DECEMBER 19, 2007

12-19-07
We have just finished two days in the Exchange Recoding Studio. We have 13 selections down instrumentally. I will be going in to do the vocal tracks and the mixing with my #1 engineer Rick Propst. I hope to have this new work out in June. Still looking for the title...
I want to take this time to wish everyone a Blessed and Marry Christmas, and a SAFE Happy and Healthy New Year...God Bless You All...frankie t

frank tarantino jr

I'm Milwaukee born and bread, born to first generation Sicilian parents Anne Riccobuono and Frank Tarantino Sr. I was raised on the east side of Milwaukee where music was abundant, I was a very luck young man. Both parents where involved with music either through church mom and dad, or light opera my dad. We always had a piano in the house and singing was a must. Being in this setting my inspirations came at an early age.

The Kool Jazz festival came to Milwaukee back then and being the size town Milwaukee was it made it easy to take a bus or even ride your bike to see Ella with Oscar, or Dizzy with Sam Jones.

My dad was more "legit" in his musical taste...if it wasn't opera or Mario or some Italian Marching Band it really wasn't music. Oh yah, he REALLY liked that blue eyed Italian boy from Hoboken. Mom loved all the women singers like Sarah, Carmen, Ella, Ms. Washington, Rosie, June Christy. for the men singers it was ALWAYS Joe Williams, Arthur P. of course Mr. Sinatra...if he was left out that would have cost her a whole bunch of Novena's.

I did not start on an instrument until I was 8 or 9 and of course it had to be the accordion..."frankie, your cousin plays accordion...you will too" hated it...mom I want to play bass like that guy on The Mike Douglas and The Tonight Show...So needless to say I played accordion until my parents felt I needed to get a good factory job.

I did do a lot of singing in high school hanging out with buddies playing guitar and finding out about the electric bass guitar. Not until 30 years old did I finally pick up my "beloved" and found wonderful teachers so helpful, giving, encouraging and butt kicking to help me in my pursuit of the bass violin.

I've been lucky to have started as a singer rather than a bassist. It made singing and playing a lot easier. So now I'LL be 55 this June 6

I've been working in a factory for 30 years and I still have that same dream of being a competent bassist and I still ask to "let me be frank" I feel this music JAZZ is so much a part of our "American" way of life...not the negative we read in the papers, hear on the news...the part of go, express yourself. Live it right now. This is how I feel this moment in time. I am a neophyte a novice in this great world of wonderful truly original music and I only hope to pay homage to all who love this music.

Let Me Be Frank

The title of my CD "Let Me Be frank"
is not only the title,
it also symbolizes my feelings for the music I
hold near and dear. Music can trigger emotions and
memories. Music gives me the support I need to get
through the hard times and to celebrate the good
times. No matter what your mood, there is a song that
expresses it. Music is always near.

Lyrics complete a song and tell a story. Each
musician and each listener interprets the song in a
unique way, bringing to it their own experiences,
memories and emotions. In relationships, too, each
person interprets, reacts and behaves according to
their own history and background.

Music and relationships, they are inseparable. I do
not know one without the other. The people we are
close to and who influence us the most have the same
interests. The actor, artist, dancer, musician and
audience are drawn to one another in appreciation of
the art and the artist's talent.

Music and dance are the only art forms that exist in a
moment in time and then they are gone. No two
performances are ever exactly the same. That makes
music exciting, challenging, humbling and very
rewarding.

I wanted the music on this CD to be spontaneous, to
convey that "moment in time" feeling. I asked my
musicians to come to the studio not knowing what tunes
we were playing. We talked over each number before
recording, and recorded the first take on all but two
songs. The result is fresh, original and creative.

It is a privilege to play with my fellow musicians on
this recording:

Mike Murphy (drums). I have known Mike as musician
and friend for more than 25 years. He has taught me
that rhythm and time hold the ensemble together. We
support the group and we support each other.

Theo Meriwether (piano). We met on a gig 10 years ago
when I was filling in for another bass player and
since then I've tried to have Theo on as many gigs as
I could. He listens and guides in and out of changes;
he creates a sense of togetherness, security and
trust.

Gary Williams (guitar). He is my teacher, mentor,
friend, big brother. Sometimes I would have given up
on this thing if it weren’t for his encouragements.