Frank D’Rone: “Double Exposure”

Frank D’Rone: “Double Exposure” (Whaling City Sound). Great male jazz vocalists remain in desperately short supply, but a few are still battling to keep standards high. Chicagoan D’Rone ranks among them, his “Double Exposure” giving listeners the rare opportunity to hear him on record with a big band. Like his longtime peers Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, 80-year-old D’Rone conveys an authority born of decades in front of ensembles large and small. No vocalist shapes a melodic line quite like D’Rone, who brings surging rhythmic power to “When the Sun Comes Out,” a whimsical spirit to “Pick Yourself Up” and imperturbable swing rhythm to “The One I Love.” And then there’s D’Rone’s guitar playing, a beguiling touch on several cuts. Considering the durability of D’Rone’s career, the integrity of his art and the ambition of this recording, “Double Exposure” arrives as an important document, showing what a great American singer can achieve at an exalted age. - Chicago Tribune

Frank D’Rone    -   Double Exposure   3/3
O’s Notes: Frank is a cabaret-style balladeer equally at home in front of a large ensemble or solo, singing and playing guitar. In both cases D’Rone is in command and projecting strong vocals. The program alternates between the big band and vocal/guitar tracks all centered around Frank. Phil Kelly produced and arranged music. He also conducts the band. Our favorite is “Pick Yourself Up.” - D. Oscar Groomes/O’s Place Jazz Magazine

“…the new CD — “Double Exposure” — was recently recorded in a studio session and attests to his incredibly well-preserved voice. He sounds no different now than he did when he recorded for Mercury in the late 1950′s. The album is amazing, and beautifully arranged and conducted by our own Phil Kelly. Half of the tracks are with an orchestra, and the other half are just Frank singing and accompanying himself on guitar.

http://www.amazon.com/Double-Exposure-Frank-DRone/dp/B005LY46CI

I can’t imagine anyone not loving… D’Rone…unique, instantly recognizable voices.” ~ Frederick Stack

“The kind of performance that the Vegas gods are smiling down upon, D’Rone could teach contemporary singers a thing or tow about finding the meat of the lyric in the classic song bag and how to sell that song in even the simplistic settings. If you’re hip enough to dig real jazz vocal, this old dog still knows how to bury a bone! Check it out.” ~ Midwest Record

“We who remember D’Rone from years back are reminded that if had never sung a note, he’s a superb jazz guitarist. But, lucky for us, he sang then, and he’s still singing now. And how!” ~ George Fendel ~ Jazz Society of Oregon

Frank D’Rone still gets it done

Legendary Chicago talent Frank D’Rone still gets it done on Double Exposure

If you haven’t heard the velvety voice and sultry strumming of Chicago treasure Frank D’Rone, well, better late than never. Fortunately, you can hear everything the man has to offer, and maybe a little bit more, on his latest album, Double Exposure.

D’Rone, who has been around long enough to be endorsed by none other than Nat King Cole, has a natural born affinity for providing great entertainment. Whether he’s belting out in front of a sizzling big band, singing some swinging pop-jazz, or crooning some acoustic ballads, D’Rone can do it all and make it seem effortless. Double Exposure, and his frequent gigs in and around Chicago, and throughout his career in major nightclubs throughout the country, attests to this.

So, yes, D’Rone has indeed been there and done that. He has connected with audiences for decades; his mellow demeanor and outsize talent is shown in abundance on Double Exposure. The recording pops on impeccably arranged big-band style tunes like the opening “When the Sun Comes Out” and “Pick Yourself Up.” D’Rone makes solid contact on his many guitar-based ballads, including “Make Someone Happy” and “The Very Thought of You.” Throughout the record, D’Rone proves he can dazzle regardless of the genre.

Born in Providence, Frank started singing and playing the guitar on stage at the age of five. At 11, he had his own local radio show and at 13 he’d won an artist’s degree in classical guitar. He formed his own band and played local dates while finishing school then took his show on the road, playing in New York City and Chicago. Frank eventually ending up in a successful residency at a Chicago club called Dante’s Inferno.

During this time, Chicago proved to be a friendly place and D’Rone made a name for himself among the elite artists of the era. Celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Ella Fitzgerald, Shecky Greene, Oscar Peterson, Alan King, Ray Brown, Stan Kenton, June Christy and many more turned up to see D’Rone do his thing. He gained a reputation as a true artist, a singer’s singer. One of his most enthusiastic admirers, the late Nat “King” Cole, penned the liner notes for Frank’s first album. Sinatra requested that D’Rone be hired to play the lounge when he played Las Vegas and Atlantic City venues.

D’Rone’s rare talent has served him well everywhere he goes. Frank was headlining the world famous “Copacabana” when Tony Bennett took over the microphone on opening night and told the audience, “A few years back, Nat “King” Cole said that Frank D’Rone was the finest singer around. Tonight he has proved that Nat was right!”

If it’s “right” with Cole and Bennett, it’ll be “right” with you, too. Check out Double Exposure.

Mixed Media, Publicity ∫ Promotion - Ginny Shea