Frank Weir

For other people named Frank Weir, see Frank Weir (disambiguation).

Frank Weir
Born(1911-01-30)30 January 1911
London, England, UK
Died12 May 1981(1981-05-12) (aged 70)
Chelsea, London, England
GenresJazz
OccupationOrchestra leader
Instrument(s)Saxophone, clarinet
LabelsDecca

Frank Weir (30 January 1911 – 12 May 1981)[1] was a British saxophonist, orchestra leader and jazz musician. He reached number 1 one on the UK Singles Chart in 1954 with Vera Lynn on a recording of the song "My Son, My Son",[2] receiving positive reviews in Variety, Cash Box and Billboard.[3]

His version of "The Happy Wanderer" became one of the most popular recordings of 1954, in both the UK and the US. It featured Weir's soprano saxophone solos between verses. It reached number 12 on the NME's short-lived "Best Selling Singles By British Artists" chart in 1954, on which "The Little Shoemaker" made #10 and "The Never Never Land" made number 4.[4] Six years later, in 1960, he had his final hit with "Caribbean Honeymoon", which reached a peak position of number 42 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]

Other recordings

  • "Mister Cuckoo" / "If Ever You Go To Paree" - Parlophone R4157
  • "What a Difference a Day Makes" / "Together" - Decca F8501
  • "The Never Never Land" / "The Little Shoemaker" - Decca F 10324 (1954)
  • "Parisien" "Phillips 326525 BF 1962"

References

  1. ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 595. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 334. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ Billboard 23 October 1954 Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510 at Google Books
  4. ^ "NME: Bestselling Discs by British Artists, 1954 (Weekly) in Research Links Forum, Whirligig Message Board". Whirligig. 16 July 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2016.


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