America, Swinging
October 04, 2019 - Jazz crooner-songwriter Frank Lamphere has completed recording his third CD "America, Swinging". The CD includes his original compositions Las Vegas with a thunderous ten-piece horn section and the swinging baseball anthem The Cubs Go All the Way. Unique covers of: America the Beautiful, Meditation, Born Free and This Guy's In Love With You are also included on the disc. Anticipated release will be in early 2020.
Frank Lamphere is a professional singer in the highly specialized genre known as traditional pop. (Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Jack Jones) Vast portions of his performances and repertoire are presented in big band and a straight-ahead jazz style and always with a live band.
His musical journey began at a young age, singing along to records on his "record player". While in his late-teens and early 20s opportunities to sing mini sets with an Italian wedding band and sit-ins with local bar bands, gave him a great start. As jazz took on a greater role in his musical direction, Frank found pianist Billy Pierce and frequented jam sessions. John Bany's and Bruce Oscar's jazz jam sessions were pivitol. Around 1998, Frank found steady vocal work with the Johnny Gabor Trio, at the Flame of Countryside. Shortly after he formed his own band and had a stream of steady club and hotel work (lasting about fifteen years). It’s worth noting that Lamphere has a day job. Deck carpenter-contractor and owner of A-Affordable Decks, 27 years in business as of 2019.
In 2002 Lamphere released a thirteen song album "Ain't Love a Kick" a tribute to lyricist Sammy Cahn, attracting national attention. The next studio project was a five song EP of original material "Frank Swings" in 2012.
Even if it has mean't not working as much, Lamphere has never had the desire to perform solo (using background tracks) to secure more work. Frank has insisted on only performing with a live band.
Career highlights include: radio and television commercials, headlining numerous shows across the Midwest, New York and Milan, Italy. The song I Never Forgot from Frank Swings was featured prominently in the major award-winning film Theresa Is a Mother. Frank has been hired across the U.S. to sing for special occasions and has had much corporate work. His entertaining services are more in-demand than ever.
Lamphere, who lives in the Chicago area, is married and has two children