Frank Fafara

Last updated

Frank Fafara (a.k.a. Frank Fara) was a teen rocker in the late 1950s and early 1960s in Phoenix, Arizona where he achieved regional fame. As an adult he changed his last name to "Fara" and toured across North America with his Country music road show, The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker. After touring for five years, he and Parker married and founded Comstock Records, an independent American record label.

Contents

Teen Idol

In the late 1950s, Frank and his school friend and lead guitarist, Richard Meyer, started out playing for high school rallies. Their popularity soon came to the attention of Arizona Republic music columnist Jack Curtis, who set up their first recording session. The original recording included Richard Meyer on lead guitar, Jim Schultz on drums, Frank on rhythm guitar, and Al Casey on bass.

Fafara had a string of successful Rock ‘n Roll releases in Arizona from 1959 to 1964. His first recording, “Only in My Dreams” [1] went to #5 on the Phoenix Top Ten radio charts. [2] [3] [4] A series of releases followed including “Miss You Dee”, “Lovemaker, Lovebreaker” [5] and “Golden One”. [6] Frank Fafara recorded at the same studio as Duane Eddy, Waylon Jennings, Sanford Clark, and Wayne Newton. [4] Cashbox’s national review noted that “Fafara has something of the late Buddy Holly in his light beat delivery”. Billboard Magazine gave him their highest 3 star rating.

Frank Fafara performed shows across Arizona with other top rockers of his day including the Everly Brothers, Conway Twitty, Brenda Lee and Del Shannon. He also appeared regularly at Stage 7, a popular Phoenix teen club. [4] Frank appeared as a regular on KPHO’s Saturday night TV show Teen Beat, as well as performing on The Wallace and Ladmo Show . On television, Frank was usually backed up by lead guitarist Mike Condello & the Stage 7 combo, while other shows normally featured Bob Knisley or Fred Allard on lead guitar.

The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker

As an adult, Fafara changed his last name to "Fara" [4] and moved to California, where he put together a country music road show. The band was originally named The Frank Fara Show, but due to his drummer's (Patty Parker) popularity and charismatic stage presence, they changed the name to The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker. For five years, Fara and Parker toured the Nevada casino circuit and major venues across North America. They eventually married, stopped touring, and began working behind the scenes in the studio. [7]

Co-Founder of Comstock Records

In 1978, Fara and Parker founded Comstock Records, an independent American record label. Fara was responsible for marketing and promotions, and Parker was the producer. Their office was originally located in Shawnee, Kansas, but they used Nashville studios and Nashville musicians to record and produce their songs. Parker was one of the first female independent Country music producers in the nation. Comstock found their niche in the music business by producing Country music albums for international artists. In 1988, Comstock Records moved their office to Scottsdale, Arizona, but continued to produce and record in Nashville. In the 1980s and 1990s, Comstock's success caught the attention of Billboard, The Wall Street Journal , and many local newspapers across North America. In 1998, after two decades of achieving charting success and international music awards, the ECMA awarded Comstock Records "Indie Label of the Year." [7]

In 1986, Fara wrote the book, How to Open Doors in the Music Industry the Independent Way.

Legacy

In the 2000s, Fafara's masters were found at Audio Recorders, the studio which made Phoenix a major recording hub during the fifties & sixties. Frank wrote all of his own songs and they were put out on MCI Records and Mascot Records. The songs were leased to Del-Fi Records, the same label as Richie Valens, but were never released nationally. In 2006, all the original Phoenix recordings from 1959 - 1964 of Fafara were completely digitized and released by Comstock Records on a CD titled Only In My Dreams.

Much of Fara's and Comstock's catalog resides with independent record label, Fervor Records, which has placed many of his songs in TV and film.

Discography

ArtistAlbumFormatRecord LabelCat #Release Date
Frank FafaraOnly In My Dreams7", SingleMCI Records10221959
Only In My DreamsCD, RemasteredComstock Records2006
Mascot Records Retrospective, Vol. 2 Fervor Records 2013
VariousDeep Cuts & B Sides: Teen Idols, Vol. 1Fervor Records2015
Deep Cuts & B Sides: Teen Idols, Vol. 2Fervor Records
VariousGrand Theft Auto Vice City Official Soundtrack Box Set7xCD, Compilation Epic, Rockstar Games 51006420002002
7xCD, Compilation, Enh+BoxEXK-870092002
Frank FaraRide With Pancho VillaSingleComstock Records2014
Songs of the Untamed WestCDComstock Records2008
Charming Billy, Billy the KidSingleComstock Records2006
Custer's Last CommandSingleComstock Records2010
Tombstone LegacySingleHow the West Was Sung BMI2014

TV and Film Placements

ComposerPerforming ArtistSong TitleProgramFormatNetworkEpisodeRelease Date
Frank FafaraFrank Fafara'Only in My Dreams" 11-22-63 SVOD Hulu 1042/29/16
Durham County TV Global Television Network/ Ion Television 4/1/2010
The Good Wife TV CBS 5143/16/2014
The Pretty One FilmProvenance Picturesna4/20/2013
Bates Motel TV A&E 5012/20/2017
"Lovemaker/Lovebreaker" American Horror Story TV FX 2012/29/2016
iZombie TV CW 3136/20/2017
"A Tear Has Taken Your Place" Girls TV HBO 5033/6/2016
Jim Boyd"You Only Want Me When You're Lonely"11-22-63Hulu1073/21/2016
"Don't Ask For More' Homeland TV Showtime 30210/6/2013
Van Helsing TV SyFy 20110/5/2017
Nancy Barry"Don't Take Me For Granted" Staten Island Summer Film Paramount Pictures na6/30/2015
Whatever Linda SVOD10110/1/2014
Preacher TV AMC Pilot5/22/2106
Leatherface Film Lionsgate na10/20/2017
Patty Parker"Help You Find a Way"PreacherTVAMC1056/26/2016

[8] [9] [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waylon Jennings</span> American country musician (1937–2002)

Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. He is considered one of the pioneers of the outlaw movement in country music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddy Miller</span> American singer-songwriter

Steven Paul "Buddy" Miller is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist and producer, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. Miller is married to and has recorded with singer-songwriter Julie Miller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clint Black</span> American country musician (born 1962)

Clint Patrick Black is an American country music singer, songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. Signed to RCA Nashville in 1989, Black's debut album Killin' Time produced four straight number one singles on the US Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. Although his momentum gradually slowed throughout the 1990s, Black consistently charted hit songs into the 2000s. He has had more than 30 singles on the US Billboard country charts, twenty-two of which have reached number one, in addition to having released twelve studio albums and several compilation albums. In 2003, Black founded his own record label, Equity Music Group. Black has also ventured into acting, having made appearances in a 1993 episode of the TV series Wings and in the 1994 film Maverick, as well as a starring role in 1998's Still Holding On: The Legend of Cadillac Jack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DevilDriver</span> American heavy metal band

DevilDriver is an American heavy metal band from Santa Barbara, California, formed in 2002, consisting of vocalist Dez Fafara, lead guitarist Mike Spreitzer, bassist Jon Miller, rhythm guitarist Alex Lee and drummer Davier Pérez. The band was originally named Deathride, however, due to copyright issues and the name being taken by several bands, the band changed its name to DevilDriver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddy Raven</span> American country music singer and songwriter (born 1944)

Edward Garvin Futch, known professionally as Eddy Raven, is an American country music singer and songwriter. Active from 1962 to 2019, Raven has recorded for several record labels, including ABC, Dimension, Elektra, RCA, Universal, and Capitol Records. After multiple albums which yielded few hit songs, his greatest commercial success came between 1984 and 1990, during which time Raven achieved six number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. These were "I Got Mexico", "Shine, Shine, Shine", "I'm Gonna Get You", "Joe Knows How to Live", "In a Letter to You", and "Bayou Boys". Raven has a total of eighteen top-ten hits on that chart. Although his chart success diminished in the 1990s, Raven continued to record throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century. In addition to his own work, he has written singles for Don Gibson, Randy Cornor, Jeannie C. Riley, Connie Smith, and The Oak Ridge Boys among others. Raven's music is defined by mainstream country, country pop, Cajun music, and reggae, and he wrote a large number of his singles by himself or with Frank J. Myers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patty Loveless</span> American country music singer (born 1957)

Patty Loveless is an American country music singer. She began performing in her teenaged years before signing her first recording contract with MCA Records' Nashville division in 1985. While her first few releases were unsuccessful, she broke through by decade's end with a cover of George Jones's "If My Heart Had Windows". Loveless issued five albums on MCA before moving to Epic Records in 1993, where she released nine more albums. Four of her albums—Honky Tonk Angel, Only What I Feel, When Fallen Angels Fly, and The Trouble with the Truth—are certified platinum in the United States. Loveless has charted 44 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including five which reached number one: "Timber, I'm Falling in Love", "Chains", "Blame It on Your Heart", "You Can Feel Bad", and "Lonely Too Long".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Music Group Nashville</span> US record company; Universal Music Groups country music subsidiary

Universal Music Group Nashville is Universal Music Group's country music subsidiary was officially opened on New Year's Day 1945 as MCA Nashville and Mercury Nashville which on New Year's Day 1950 as Capitol Nashville. Some of the labels in this group include MCA Nashville Records, Mercury Nashville Records, Lost Highway Records, Capitol Records Nashville and EMI Records Nashville. UMG Nashville not only handles these imprints, but also manages the country music catalogues of record labels Universal Music and predecessor companies acquired over the years including ABC Records, Decca Records, Dot Records, DreamWorks Records, Kapp Records, MGM Records and Polydor Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surfin' Safari (song)</span> 1962 single by the Beach Boys

"Surfin' Safari" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys, written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. Released as a single with "409" in June 1962, it peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also appeared on the 1962 album of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fervor Records</span>

Fervor Records is an American independent record label based in Phoenix, Arizona. The company was founded in 1989 and is now owned and operated by David Hilker and Jeff Freundlich. The label creates compilations of previously released and unreleased music, reissues original albums and singles, and releases music from heritage and contemporary artists across numerous genres. The catalog includes many Billboard charting songs as well as major label, Hall of Fame, and Grammy Award-winning artists. Fervor licenses music to television shows, films, advertising, and other media applications. The label releases limited physical product on CD, cassette, vinyl, and has products available on digital platforms worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dickey Lee</span> Musical artist

Royden Dickey Lipscomb, known professionally as Dickey Lee, is an American pop/country singer and songwriter, best known for the 1960s teenage tragedy songs "Patches" and "Laurie ". He also has a number of hit songs on the country charts in the 1970s, including "Rocky" and "9,999,999 Tears", and has written or co-written songs recorded by other singers, such as "She Thinks I Still Care", "The Door Is Always Open" and "The Keeper of the Stars".

Alvin Wayne Casey was an American guitarist. He was mainly known for his work as a session musician, but also released his own records and scored three Billboard Hot 100 hits in the United States. His contribution to the rockabilly genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Sanford Clark was an American country-rockabilly singer and guitarist, best known for his 1956 hit "The Fool".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waymore's Outlaws</span> American country band

The Waylors, later Waymore's Outlaws, is a country music band, best known as the backing and recording band of country music singer Waylon Jennings. Jennings formed the band in 1961, consisting of Jerry Gropp on the guitar and Richie Albright on the drums after moving to Phoenix, Arizona. The band earned a local fan base during its appearances on the night club JD's.

Bruce Connole is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was the lead singer for the Jetzons and several other bands based in the Southwest United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Stapleton</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1978)

Christopher Alvin Stapleton is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and grew up in Staffordsville, Kentucky. In 2001, Stapleton moved to Nashville, Tennessee to get an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University but dropped out to pursue his career in music. Subsequently, Stapleton signed a contract with Sea Gayle Music to write and publish his music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doll Skin</span> American rock band

Doll Skin was an American rock band from Phoenix, Arizona, United States. The original band members met at School of Rock Scottsdale. Their sound blended a blend of punk, metal, alternative, and pop. Doll Skin has been compared to bands ranging from The Donnas to The Go-Go's to The Runaways. They have received press coverage in Alternative Press, Phoenix New TimesBillboard, Rock Sound, Kerrang and Bravewords.

Comstock Records is an independent American record label. Established and managed by Frank Fara and Patty Parker, Comstock achieved international success in the 1980s and 1990s by producing country music records for international artists. Several Comstock artists charted nationally and internationally, and many were nominated for Country Music awards.

Patty Parker is an American singer, drummer, producer, and co-owner of independent record label, Comstock Records. In the mid-1970s she and her future husband, Frank Fara (Fafara) toured the Nevada casino circuit in their traveling Country music show, The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker. Parker sang background vocals and was one of the only female drummers touring. In 1978, Parker and Fara launched Comstock Records and experienced immediate success with their first artist, Alex Fraser, whose single peaked at #9 on the Canadian Country music charts. Parker was one of the first full-time female music producers in Nashville and her success caught the attention of Billboard, Cashbox, Music Row Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and many local newspapers across Canada and the United States.

Donnie Owens was an American singer, guitarist, producer, and composer. His hit song “Need You” peaked at #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1958. Owens worked extensively with artist/songwriter/producer Lee Hazlewood and worked as an executive producer for LHI Records. He was a session musician and played the rhythm guitar for Duane Eddy, Nancy Sinatra, Elvis Presley and many others. In 1994, Owens was accidentally shot to death by his girlfriend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waking Up Dreaming</span> 2022 single by Shania Twain

"Waking Up Dreaming" is a song co-written and recorded by Canadian singer Shania Twain, and released on September 23, 2022 and serves as the lead single from Twain's sixth studio album, Queen of Me (2023). The song was written by Jessica Agombar, David Stewart, and Twain.

References

  1. Good Sales Potential, Billboard (magazine) , March 28, 1960, p.61 (listing "Only In My Dreams" and "Gotta Get To You" by Fafara under the "Good Sales Potential" section of the singles review section)
  2. KRIZ Official Survey Songs of the Week, April 16, 1960(listing "Only In My Dreams" at #5, document hosted on comstockrecords.com)
  3. Curtis, Jack. Fafara realizes a 'dream' with 60's hit, Jack Curtis Presents Let The Good Times Roll, December 2009
  4. 1 2 3 4 COUNTRY FROM THE OLD COUNTRY, Phoenix New Times , February 10, 1993
  5. Good Sales Potential, Billboard (magazine) , August 15, 1960, p.37 (listing "Miss You, Dee" and "Lovemaker, Lovemaker" by Fafara under the "Good Sales Potential" section of the singles review section)
  6. Moderate Sales Potential, Billboard (magazine) , December 4, 1961, p.28 (listing "Golden One" by Fafara under the "Moderate Sales Potential" section of the singles review section)
  7. 1 2 "Comstock Records". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  8. "Music by Frank Fafara". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  9. "Music by Jim Boyd". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  10. "Music by Nancy Barry". Tunefind. Retrieved 2018-01-18.