Frank Westphal
Frank Westphal and his Orchestra ( Redhotjazz.com) The tune you have listened to is titled Oh Sister, Ain't That Hot as played by Frank Westphal and his Orchestra. This record was recorded in Chicago on the 16th of October 1923 for Columbia. The musicans you've hearded on this record are Austin Edward and Harry Scott on trumpet, Caesar Petrillo on trombone, Ollie "Duke"Riehl, Hal Lage, Howard Gratham on reeds, Johnny Winslow at the piano, Earle Roberts on bass, Roscoe Rubelati on tuba and Ted Arnold on drums. Frank Westphal, Chicagoan piano player was the leader of that band.
Less is known about this man, except that he was married with Sophie Tucker, one of the last so-called Red Hot Mama's, from 1914 up to 1919. Sophie Tucker has been married several times and all her marriages ended in a divorce. She has said about that: Once you start carrying your own suitcase, paying your own bills, running your own show, you've done something to yourself that makes you one of those women men like to call 'a pal' and 'a good sport,' the kind of woman they tell their troubles to. But you've cut yourself off from the orchids and the diamond bracelets, except those you buy yourself.
This band and his musicians was rather popular in the 1920s and early 1930s in the dance halls in Chicago and they performed often in the Rainbo Gardens during this period. Frank Westphal recorded several records for Columbia early 1920s ( It seem there are no later recordings ! Why not?) under his own name, but also as Frank Westphal and his Rainbo Orchestra.
This band became the house band of the WENR radio in Chicago and probably the next newsreel clip has to do with that. Thanks to Frenk van Meeteren, who pointed me to this great fragment we now can hear and see him playing the piano in a rather hot version of Sing You Sinners. The tune suggests that this filmfragment was made early 1930s. It is a pity that we don't know the names of the musicians, but it seems to be clear that the piano player could be Frank Westphal himself.
This unknown little jewel on film of an early danceband shows once more how important it is to preserve these historical sources. It would be great is we could locate some of the men on the film. If you have further info - please contact me. Thanks Frenk for pointing me to this great fragment. - Hans Koert
keepswinging@live.nl
BERT JORIS QUARTET:The best trumpet player in Belgium and the surrounding countries might must be Bert Joris and he will perform with his quartet, featuring Bert Joris on trumpet, Dado Moroni op piano, Ira Coleman on bass and Joost Van Schaik on drums at De Werf in Bruges, Belgium on Saturday the 17th of May 2008. Find all info at its website.
BILL EVANS - JIM HALL = UNDERCURRENT:
Keep swinging
Hans Koert
keepswinging@live.nl
Nederlands ( To the English translation )
Frank Westphal and his Orchestra (Redhotjazz.com) Deze band en zijn musici waren in hun tijd in en rond Chicago tamelijk populair maar zijn nu helemaal vergeten. Ze traden op in de danszalen, zoals de Rainbo Gardens in Chicago en namen begin jaren twintig ( en daarna niet meer? - vreemd .... ) platen op voor Columbia. Frank Westphal noemde zijn band toen ook wel Frank Westphal and his Rainbo Orchestra.
Sophie Tucker ( 1884-1966) BERT JORIS QUARTET:BILL EVANS - JIM HALL = UNDERCURRENT:
Labels: frank westphal, sophie tucker
posted by Anonymous at 5:46 AM
4 Comments:
My name is John Stoll. My grandfather is Frank Westphal. If you have anymore information, or know of any sources I could pursue to find information about Frank Westphal, I would really appreciate you forwarding it to me.
Frank wrote many more songs. Some of the more famous songs were "When you come to the end of the day" performed by Perry Como, "Old Soldiers Never Die". Douglas MacArthur, a famous American general quoted the title of this song in his resignation speech to congress in 1955(?). Frank contracted TB from an illness or an injury during the first world war and as a result spent the last several years of his life in a series of TB sanatoriums. He died in a sanatorium in Connecticut in 1948
John Stoll
What a great site. Am a big fan of this era's music and performers.
Am doing a dvd documentary on the Coliseum Ballroom in Benld, IL. Frank Westphal was the first to play there on Christmas Eve, 1924. Biggest dance floor, 10,000 sq. ft., in Illinois outside of Chicago. I'm looking for info on Frank and pix as well. Would appreciate anything you can provide. Can I get in touch with John Stoll? Thanks! Jim Marcacci
I don't think my last post made it! Love the site and love the music. Frank Westphal is of special interest to me as I'm doing a documentary DVD on a place in central Illinois called the Coliseum Ballroom. Frank was the first to play there when it opened Christmas Eve, 1924. We don't have too much information and I would like to get in touch with his grandson, John Stoll. What's the possibility of that? Would appreciate any help you may be able to provide. Thanks. Jim Marcacci
John Stoll - do you have any pictures of your grandfather? I have a photo of my mother with someone who might be he. My mother's mother cared for one of Sophie Tucker's husbands, and we have the sheet music to "When You Come to the End of the Day" so I'm leaning toward Frank being that husband. drmarybaker@gmail.com
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