Home » Jazz Musicians » Frank Lamphere

Frank Lamphere

January 25, 2024 – Retro jazz crooner & occasional songwriter Frank Lamphere released his fourth studio album “Now, THAT'S Amore!” on September 25, 2023. The album contains fourteen songs, four of which are originals. Of these originals, Do You Like What You See? is an energetic bluesy pop ala 1967 as is I’d Like to Come Back to You, a song with lyrics about the Vietnam war. Both songs feature jazz organ accompaniment, adding to their authentic-to-the-period sound. Think Happy, most likely inspired by national talk show radio host Dennis Prager, is a "small group big band" swinger whose message speaks of thinking positively. Frank does another take on his baseball song, now with a new home team The Braves Go All the Way. Of the remaining covers, That’s Amore, originally from the 1953 Martin and Lewis movie “The Caddy” received a makeover and was made into a jazz waltz, but still with plenty of Italian flavorings. Frank's unique rendition of  Speak Softly, Love (The Godfather Theme) now a full-bodied swinger, should turn some heads. Two Henry Mancini tunes: the very up-tempo Charade and the Latin flavored, vibe-tinged Slow Hot Wind found a place on the album. Another patriotic American song, found it's way onto a Lamphere album God Bless America, now a swinger. Surprise! Bacharach’s 1967 Look of Love, a huge Buddy Greco nod in Around the World and the 1934 ballad For All We Know round out the album. This album was recorded over two sessions in March 2020 and February 2021.

Frank Lamphere  has been honing his swinging style during his 25 year singing career in the specialized genre nowadays referred to as traditional pop and jazz. A style which he learned or more like "absorbed" from the titans of popular music, aka male vocalists prior to 1970: Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jack Jones, Buddy Greco, Tony Bennett and others.

From the Chicago area, Frank's musical journey began at a young age, singing along to the records he played, on his "record player". He always had an ear for music recorded "before his time" a trait inherited from his dad. While in his late-teens and early 20s opportunities to sit-in with local bar bands and mini sets with a wedding band were a great introduction to performing in front of a live audience. Later, jazz took on a profound role in his musical direction when he "found" pianist Billy Pierce and also began frequenting several jazz jam sessions. In 1998 good fortune fell upon Lamphere as he was offered steady club work with the popular Johnny Gabor Trio. Shortly after, he began taking on his own gigs, not only in the Chicago area, but all over the country. In addition to fronting the jazz quartet at Chicago's Peninsula Hotel, Frank's was the house band at Jilly's in Naperville in 2007. Despite this busy music career, Lamphere has retained a day-job as a deck contractor. His company A-Affordable Decks, attained 31 years in business, in Autumn 2023.  

Read more

Tags

171
Album Review

Frank Lamphere: Ain't Love a Kick: The Unforgettable Songs of Sammy Cahn

Read "Ain't Love a Kick: The Unforgettable Songs of Sammy Cahn" reviewed by Dave Nathan


One of the most prolific and successful lyric writers in the history of American popular song was Sammy Cahn. His career, like Gaul, can be divided into two parts. The first was that eminently thriving collaboration with Jule Styne which produced one hit after another including "Time After Time", "The Things We Did Last Summer" and "I've Heard That Song Before". The second major partnership by the New York lyricist was with the inestimable Jimmy Van Heusen. This merger was ...

Read more articles
70

TV / Film

Crooner Frank Lamphere’s Original Songs to Be Featured in Movie

Crooner Frank Lamphere’s Original Songs to Be Featured in Movie

Source: Frank Lamphere

CHICAGO, IL—Just eight days after being digitally released, two songs on the new EP, Frank Swings, jazz retro-pop crooner Frank Lamphere's (LAM-fear) first release of original music, have been licensed for inclusion in an independent film. The New York-based film production company A May Sky Picture Entertainment discovered Lamphere's recording of the swinging “I Never Forgot" online and found it the ideal fit for a memorable scene in their film Teresa is a Mother. The jazz-flavored “Be Happy" will also ...

"His voice, now more than ever before, is a wonderful blend of masculine strength and smooth, rounded edges" "The fledgling composer succeeds with five originals with catchy lyrics, good production value, and top notch playing by some of Chicago’s finest musicians" "Unlike singers like Michael Buble who initially succeed in one genre but cross over into more popular styles, Frank demonstrates respect for the style he loves. Without being a generic impersonator, Lamphere derives inspiration from the usual suspects, Sinatra and Dean Martin. But I didn’t find myself comparing him to either"

Buddy Greco
vocals
Jack Jones
vocals
Henry Mancini
composer / conductor
Dean Martin
vocals
Tom Jones
woodwinds

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Now, THAT'S Amore!

Late Nite Records
2023

buy

America the Beautiful...

Late Nite Records
2020

buy

Frank Swings

Late Nite Records
2012

buy

Ain't Love a Kick:...

Late Nite Records
2002

buy

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.