Frank Bey

Frank Bey
Background information
Birth name Frank Bass
Born (1946-01-17) January 17, 1946
Millen, Georgia, United States
Genres Blues
Occupation(s) Singer
Labels Nola Blue
Website www.frankbeymusic.com
Back in Business album cover, released September 21, 2018

Frank Bey (born January 17, 1946) is an American blues singer.  He was the seventh of twelve children born to gospel singer Maggie Jordan. Although his birth name was Frank Bass, he changed his last name to Bey at age 27 when he joined the Moorish Science Temple of America.[1]

Early Years

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.[2] He remained with them until age 12 or 13 when the group dissolved.  He also sang with his mother at local concerts, where he had the opportunity to help open shows for luminaries such as the Five Blind Boys of Alabama, the Soul Stirrers, and more.[1]

Career

Bey left home when he was 17 and moved to Philadelphia, where he worked for two and a half years as a driver for Gene Lawson, Otis Redding’s advance publicity man. Redding sometimes rode in the back seat on trips between engagements. On three of those occasions, when the opening act was late showing up, Bey says he was given the opportunity to open the shows. By the early 70's he joined the Moorish Vanguard and relocated to Aiken, South Carolina.  In 1976, Bey produced "The Sunset of Your Love" on the Country Eastern Music label.[3] James Brown then published the song on Polydor Records without their permission. The group initially accused Bey of giving the song to Brown but Brown later settled and admitted to taking the song.[4] After this, Bey left the music business and wouldn't sing again for 17 years.

By 1996, Bey returned to singing in the Philadelphia area.  In 1998, Bey's debut album, Steppin' Out, was released on MAG Records.[5] Health problems interfered with his ability to perform in support of the release, and he subsequently released "Blues in the Pocket" in 2007 on Jeffhouse Records.[6] By that time, Bey had begun traveling to the Bay Area in Claifornia to perform with guitarist Anthony Paule and other area musicians. The two went on to release two albums, "You Don't Know Nothing (Live)"[7] in 2013 and "Soul for Your Blues,"[8] later in 2013.[1]

In July 2018, Bey signed with Nola Blue Records[9]. In September, he released his first CD on the Nola Blue label, Back In Business[10]

Awards

  • 35th Blues Music Awards - Nominee for Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year[11]
  • 35th Blues Music Awards - Nominee (with Anthony Paule) for Soul Blues Album of the Year (Soul for Your Blues)[11]
  • 37th Blues Music Awards - Nominee for Soul Blues Male Artist of the Year[12]
  • 37th Blues Music Awards - Nominee (with Anthony Paule) for Soul Blues Album of the Year (Not Goin' Away)[12]
  • 2018 Global Music Awards - Gold Medal, Male Vocalist - Back In Business[13]

Discography

Album Artist Release Date Credit
The Sunset of Your Love Moorish Vanguard 1976 Producer, Vocals
Steppin' Out Frank Bey 1998 Primary Artist
Blues in the Pocket Frank Bey 2007 Primary Artist
You Don't Know Nothing Frank Bey/Anthony Paule 2013 Vocals
Soul for Your Blues Frank Bey/Anthony Paule 2013 Vocals
Back In Business Frank Bey 2018 Primary Artist

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Frank Bey: Music Was The Thing That Brought Joy". livingblues.com. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  2. ↑ "About Frank". frankbeymusic.com. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  3. ↑ "The Moorish Vanguard Concert* - The Sunset Of Your Love". Discogs. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  4. ↑ "Moorish Vanguard Concert vs. James Brown". law.justia.com. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Steppin' Out". Amazon.com. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Blues In The Pocket". allmusic.com. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  7. ↑ "You Don't Know Nothing". allmusic.com. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Soul for Your Blues". Amazon.com. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Nola Blue Press Release". prlog.org. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Frank Bey on Nola Blue Records".
  11. 1 2 "Winners of the 2014 Blues Music Awards". ThoughtCo. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  12. 1 2 "The Blues Foundation Announces 37th Blues Music Award Nominees". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
  13. ↑ "Global Music Awards - Music Competition". www.globalmusicawards.com. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
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