Frank Black

American conductor, composer, arranger, pianist and organist (born November 29, 1894 in Philadelphia, PA - died January 29, 1968 in Atlanta, GA). Frank Black made numerous recordings for Brunswick between 1925 and 1929, as a solo pianist or organist, as an accompanist, and as the leader of his own orchestra, Frank Black And His Orchestra (sometimes appearing on Vocalion (2) under the alias Jay's Chelsea Orchestra). On four 1929 titles for Vocalion (2), he played the accordion (under the pseudonym Frank King). For Columbia, he worked as an arranger for the Sam Lanin Orchestra (1925). In 1926, he accompanied the The Singing Sophomores (an alias for The Revelers (2)), the Crescent Trio, and Lewis James on the piano. For Victor, Black served as the piano accompanist for The Revelers (2) between 1926 and 1934. He also directed Victor Arden, Phil Ohman And Their Orchestra on Victor recordings between 1927 and 1932. In July 1927, Black left Brunswick and joined with Gustave Haenschen in recording transcripts of orchestra recordings for lease to smaller radio stations. In late 1927, they and Percy Deutsch, all formerly with Brunswick, acquired the Sonora Recording Laboratories. Black became Sonora's Musical Director and arranger. Starting in 1927, Black started working as musical director of NBC Radio. As such, he conducted on numerous NBC Radio shows. He led the Seiberling Orchestra that provided music for The Seiberling Singers on NBC-Radio (1927-1929). He also provided music for other radio programs including The Carnation Contented Hour on NBC-BLUE (1932-1941); The Jack Benny Program on NBC (1933-1934); The Jane Froman Show (Pontiac Parade) on NBC (1934-1935); Cities Service Concerts on NBC (1938-1944); Words At War on NBC (1943); The Harvest of Stars on NBC (1946-1948). In 1933, Black formed The NBC String Symphony that appeared in summer programs, then for a full season (1939-1940). In addition, he conducted the NBC Symphony Orchestra on The Magic Key (1935-1939) and the orchestra on Ford Festival (The James Melton Show) for NBC-TV (1951-1952). In 1946, Black recorded several titles with the NBC Symphony Orchestra for the V Disc label.