FRANK BEY

Born and raised in Millen, Georgia, Frank Bey began his singing career performing gospel at the tender age of 4. Along with his brother and two cousins, their group “The Rising Sons” toured around The South making live appearances as well as radio broadcasts. At age 17 he joined the Otis Redding Revue working as the opening act for several years. During his time with Otis Redding, Frank learned to captivate and mesmerize an audience with a song. 

​In the early 1970s, he formed a tight-knit radical funk group - Moorish Vanguard. But in a record deal gone wrong with James Brown, it all fell apart. Abandoned by his closest friends, Frank quit singing for 17 years. Eventually, Frank would find that he could never walk away from his dream. He returned to music, and despite a sudden battle with kidney failure, connected with an internationally touring blues band.

 On stage, whether for hundreds at international music festivals or dozens at a local church, Frank Bey is radiant, powerful, and generous. His perfectly self-tailored suits are as sharp and polished as his smooth baritone voice. Off stage, one might just miss Frank. He’s quiet, humble and focused. He walks with a cane, but is still dressed to a “T”, partly because he only has room for show clothes in the closet of his tiny apartment. 

​Frank was nominated in 2014 for Soul Blues Artist of the Year and for Soul Blues Album of the year for his album with the Bey Paule Band, "Soul For Your Blues."  He was again nominated in 2016 for Soul Blues Artist of the Year and for Soul Blues Album, "Not Going Away", also with the Bey Paule Band.

​”Frank Bey had been standing in the shadows of stardom far too long. He has finally stepped out of the shadows.”

            Lee Hildebrand – Music Journalist

​“In a time when American Idol-type vocal gymnastics too often pass for soul, Frank Bey is a perfect reminder of what soul singing is really all about: Communication, warmth, and emotional sincerity.”

            Rick Estrin of the Nightcats – Alligator Records Recording Artist

Nola Blue

Data de publicació: 18 de set. 2018

From the album, "Back in Business," on Nola Blue Records, available September 21, 2018.  

https://nola-blue.lnk.to/FrankBey

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"Back in Business" was created as part of a documentary feature film about Frank's music and life called "Ask Me How I Feel."  With a heart and soul that just won't quit, Frank continues to pursue his dream of making the world a better place by sharing the gift of his music.  Visit https://www.frankbeyfilm.com for more about the film!

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Song written by Tom Hambridge and Richard Fleming.

Tom Hambridge Tunes (ASCAP)

Richard Fleming Music (BMI)

Copyright 2018 DDLH Productions.

Publicity and Promotion by Betsie Brown, Blind Raccoon.

Frank Bey (vocals), Tom Hambridge (background vocals), Rob McNelly (guitar), Tommy MacDonald (bass), Tom Hambridge (drums)

Produced by Tom Hambridge

Recorded in Nashville, TN

Mixed and Mastered by Tom Hambridge and Michael Saint-Leon

Video created by Debra Clark Graphics.

Frank Bey, the "Southern Gentleman of Blues", is a master of the blues musician who has a unique sound of his own. Frank 0Frank has been described as Ray Charles, Bobby "Blue" Bland, and B.B. King wrapped in one package.

Frank began singing at the age of four alongside his mother, Maggie Jordan, who is a well known gospel singer from Millen, Georgia--Frank's hometown. 

Frank's career as a touring musician began in his teenage years, singing throughout the Southeast region. During this time, Frank drove for Ottis Redding and occasionally shared the stage with this legendary soul singer.

In the late sixties, Frank toured with The Ottis Redding Review. This opportunity had helped him develop into a dynamic performer who creates personal and exciting experiences for his audience.

Shortly after Frank's journey with The Ottis Redding Review, he continued his musical career touring with Archie Jenkins and The Incredible Saxons throughout the United States, Canada, Alaska, and Spain. 

Frank's career as a working musician was finally taking off! Shortly after his international tour, Frank was offered a record deal which led to a two-year legal battle. "We were like brothers and sisters, then distrust came in, and there was a big breakup. It was almost like divorcing eight people. I made a vow to myself to never, ever join a democratic group again."

Frank later developed a business in construction to make ends meet and to support his family. In the 1990s, Frank opened a restaurant at Broad & Olney in Philadelphia, PA. Being fond of music and entertainment, he built a stage in his restaurant and began auditioning bands. "I couldn't really find bands at that point that satisfied my tastes in music, so I hired some musicians to back me, and the customers recognized his musical ability and asked, "Man, WHY are you in the KITCHEN?". 

During the next two years, Frank developed his permanent entourage; "The Swing City Blues Band". In 1998 he released his debut CD, "Steppin' Out"--a project which demonstrates multiple blues styles including swing, standards, slow blues, delta, country, folk, and R&B.

The songs on "Steppin' Out" are catchy, hook-laden songs such as "Girl I Want to Be With You", and the funkier "Cookie Jar". The album also features straight-forward blues such as "Brother Man Blues", which features Jeff Monjack playing fine slide-guitar. While most of the songs on this album are band originals, it also features some awesome covers of "Someone Else Is Steppin' In", and blues-medley featuring "Why I Sing The Blues", "Stormy Monday", and "Hey, Hey, The Blues Is Alright!". 

In June of 2000, Frank released his second album "I Wanna See You Soon". This album features a variety of classics such as "Turn Back The Hands of Time", "Ain't That Loving You", and "Sitting On The Dock of the Bey". Frank's arrangements of these songs truly demonstrate his individuality as a musician and artist.

"When I sing a song, I want to get in your chest. I want you to feel what I'm singing about. The music that I do reminds mature people and seniors of the times when they were falling in love, and the times when their children was born, so they're hungry for it."

Frank currently resides in Philadelphia, and performs internationally at a variety of venues. He is actively writing music and touring the East Coast with his Swing City Blues Band and is currently working on his next album.

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Here's what a few people have said about Frank:

"His rich voice and exquisite style is presented with such feeling that each member of an audience can relate his songs to his or her experience." -Blues Bites, March 1998

"Frank pays tribute to his southern roots on the Denise LaSalle anthem, "Someone Else is Steppin In" and the perfunctory "Blues Medely", but shows a broader range on the originals that make up the rest of the set. Bey's music contains traces of Lou Rawls, Taj Mahal, Jimmy Witherspoon, James Brown, and even Piedmont blues when guitarist, Jeff Monjact switches to acoustic on "When It Comes To You". The most memorable moments come when the lyrics and music take on a harder edge as Bey turns to social commentary on "Brother Man Blues" and "Can't Turn Back". -Living Blues, July/August 1998