Frank Jeckell

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Frank Jeckell
Frank Jeckell.png
Jeckell in 2007
Background information
Born
Linden, New Jersey, US
Genres Bubblegum pop
InstrumentsGuitar, vocals
Years active1965–present
Member of 1910 Fruitgum Company

Frank Jeckell (born 1945/1946) is an American musician. He is best known as the original guitarist for 1910 Fruitgum Company.

Biography

Jeckell was born in Linden, New Jersey, where he continued to live until his thirties. [1] His father, Frank E. Jeckell Jr., served in the United States Navy during World War II and received a Purple Heart, and died on December 8, 2009 aged 85. [2] Frank had a brother named George whose death predeceased their fathers death. [2]

Jeckell's grandfather and father played accordion. [3] When Frank was eight years old, he was asked to play accordion lessons, but refused as his aunties and uncles on his fathers side played country and western songs on the guitar, but, wanting to keep tradition, his father made him take accordion lessons, which he quit after a year. [3]

Jeckell would take guitar lessons for the first time in 1960, when he was fourteen, when one of his uncles came back from service in Germany with a guitar, which Frank's father bought off of him for $25. [3]

He graduated in 1964 from Linden High School, where he participated as a member of the choir. [4]

Jeckell formed Jeckell and The Hydes, a cover rock band, in 1965. [3] After their drummer left, Jeckell, along with band mates Mark Gutkowski (keys/vocals) and Steve Morkowitz (bass) teamed up with Floyd Marcus (drums) and Pat Karwan (guitar) to form 1910 Fruitgum Company. [3]

Through Karwan's friend Butch, who knew the father of Jeffry Katz, they signed to Buddah Records in 1967 [3] and released their first single, "Simon Says", that same year. It is often believed that the 1910 Fruitgum Company, like fellow bubblegum band The Ohio Express, had session musicians play on all of their records, something Jeckell has denied. [5]

Jeckell left the band in September 1968. [5] Afterwards, he got a job and raised a family. [1] He continued to perform music at weddings and bar mitzvahs and was in a musical duo with Glenn Lewis, who now plays with Jeckell in 1910 Fruitgum Company. [1]

In 1999, Frank and original drummer Floyd Marcus reformed the 1910 Fruitgum Company. [1] As of 2026, the two still tour in the band across the United States.

As of 2009, Jeckell was living in Rockaway, New Jersey with his wife Debra. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Christiano-Mistretta, Maryanne (April 21, 2024). "1960s Billboard hitmakers got their start in Linden" . Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Frank Jeckell Obituary (2009) - Newark, NJ - The Star-Ledger". Legacy.com. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Central, Spotlight (September 3, 2023). ""Simon Says!" Spotlight on The 1910 Fruitgum Company's Frank Jeckell". Spotlight Central. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
  4. ↑ Cynosure 1964, Linden High School. Accessed January 21, 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Gary James' Interview With Frank Jeckell". www.classicbands.com. Retrieved January 19, 2026.
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