Francesco J. "Frank" Guida (May 26, 1922 – May 19, 2007) was a Sicilian-Americansongwriter and music producer credited with discovering Gary U.S. Bonds, whose hits, including "New Orleans" and "Quarter to Three", he produced.[1] He was also a songwriter for Leroy Toombs. Other performers discovered by Guida include Jimmy Soul, Tommy Facenda (who gave Guida his first hit with "High School U.S.A."),[2] Lenis Guess and Pamala Stanley. The distinct sound he helped to create has been credited as influencing such major songwriters and producers as Bruce Springsteen and Phil Spector.[2] Together with musicians like the tenor saxman Gene "Daddy G" Barge, he helped establish what became known as "The Norfolk Sound".[3] His songs have been used in such films as Mask, Mermaids and Jaded.[2]
Biographyedit
Born in Palermo, he came to New York City with his family as a child. While stationed in Trinidad during the Second World War, he fell under the influence of calypso. He relocated to Norfolk, Virginia, where he opened a record store in 1953.[citation needed] That store, Frankie's Got It, was located on Granby Street but has closed. Its motto was Shakespeare's "If music be the food of love, play on!", which later became a song on a Bonds B-side.
Apart from his hits with Bonds, his most famous song is "If You Wanna Be Happy", recorded by Jimmy Soul. Australian singer, Joe Dolce, recorded a cover version of "If You Wanna Be Happy", in 1981, with a new set of Italian-themed lyrics. Guida wrote Dolce about the new version: '"If You Want to Be Happy" has got to be as good if not just a wee better than 'Shaddap You Face'. Frankly I never dreamed anyone could come up with such a great and incredibly different arrangement. Sure, the new lyrics are excellent but the whole Italo-Anglo melodic fusion is absolutely fantastic. As a hard-nosed and proud Italian-American, I do not in anyway find it offensive or demeaning. Would you believe that I am a charter member of the National Italian American Foundation and not more that two weeks ago, I informed our president in Washington, D.C., Frank Stella, that Joe Dolce's next release would be one I wrote!!' Guida's 'live' 'party-in-the-studio' sound is thought to have influenced Phil Spector.
He owned a number of record labels, including LeMonde (distributed by Atlantic), then Legrand (distributed by Rust/Laurie) and finally SPQR (distributed by London).
Guida died in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2007.
Referencesedit
^Baker, Greg (February 22, 2007). "Hero to the Boss". Miami New Times. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
^ abc"Frank Guida - Record producer who created a unique 'party' sound so distinctive in many Sixties pop hits". Times Online obituary. Times Newspapers Ltd. June 30, 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
^McNutt, Randy (2002). Guitar towns: a journey to the crossroads of rock 'n' roll (Illustrated ed.). Indiana University Press. ISBN0-253-34058-6.
frank, guida, this, article, multiple, issues, please, help, improve, discuss, these, issues, talk, page, learn, when, remove, these, template, messages, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, p. This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Frank Guida news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Francesco J Frank Guida May 26 1922 May 19 2007 was a Sicilian American songwriter and music producer credited with discovering Gary U S Bonds whose hits including New Orleans and Quarter to Three he produced 1 He was also a songwriter for Leroy Toombs Other performers discovered by Guida include Jimmy Soul Tommy Facenda who gave Guida his first hit with High School U S A 2 Lenis Guess and Pamala Stanley The distinct sound he helped to create has been credited as influencing such major songwriters and producers as Bruce Springsteen and Phil Spector 2 Together with musicians like the tenor saxman Gene Daddy G Barge he helped establish what became known as The Norfolk Sound 3 His songs have been used in such films as Mask Mermaids and Jaded 2 Biography editBorn in Palermo he came to New York City with his family as a child While stationed in Trinidad during the Second World War he fell under the influence of calypso He relocated to Norfolk Virginia where he opened a record store in 1953 citation needed That store Frankie s Got It was located on Granby Street but has closed Its motto was Shakespeare s If music be the food of love play on which later became a song on a Bonds B side Apart from his hits with Bonds his most famous song is If You Wanna Be Happy recorded by Jimmy Soul Australian singer Joe Dolce recorded a cover version of If You Wanna Be Happy in 1981 with a new set of Italian themed lyrics Guida wrote Dolce about the new version If You Want to Be Happy has got to be as good if not just a wee better than Shaddap You Face Frankly I never dreamed anyone could come up with such a great and incredibly different arrangement Sure the new lyrics are excellent but the whole Italo Anglo melodic fusion is absolutely fantastic As a hard nosed and proud Italian American I do not in anyway find it offensive or demeaning Would you believe that I am a charter member of the National Italian American Foundation and not more that two weeks ago I informed our president in Washington D C Frank Stella that Joe Dolce s next release would be one I wrote Guida s live party in the studio sound is thought to have influenced Phil Spector He owned a number of record labels including LeMonde distributed by Atlantic then Legrand distributed by Rust Laurie and finally SPQR distributed by London Guida died in Norfolk Virginia in 2007 References edit Baker Greg February 22 2007 Hero to the Boss Miami New Times Retrieved 25 April 2010 a b c Frank Guida Record producer who created a unique party sound so distinctive in many Sixties pop hits Times Online obituary Times Newspapers Ltd June 30 2007 Retrieved 25 April 2010 McNutt Randy 2002 Guitar towns a journey to the crossroads of rock n roll Illustrated ed Indiana University Press ISBN 0 253 34058 6 External links editFrank Guida at AllMusic Frank Guida presents Greatest Hits Birdland Music Legrand Records Frank Guida at IMDb nbsp This article about an American composer born in the 20th century is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Frank Guida amp oldid 1204821589, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
