Frank S. Perkins (April 21, 1908 in Salem, Massachusetts – March 15, 1988 in Los Angeles, California) was an American song composer best known for the song "Stars Fell on Alabama" (with lyrics by Mitchell Parish) and his band classic, Fandango. He earned his Ph.B from Brown University in Providence, RI in economics in 1929. Although he was an accomplished pianist, by graduation he could play organ, trombone, saxophone and all the percussion instruments. He studied with noted composer and educator Tibor Serly, who was a student of Zoltán Kodály and also worked with Béla Bartók. Upon graduation, Perkins toured Europe and returned to form his own dance band and become a song writer. In 1934 he joined Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians and remained with them as arranger until 1938 when he joined Warner Brothers as a composer and conductor, where he remained for many years.
Decca records called upon Perkins to record some of his own light compositions on LP's in the 1950s. Some of those he recorded were "Kentucky Trotter," "The Deserted Patio," "Barbara," "Pop-Gun Patrol,", "Fandango," "Feliciana," "Escapade," and "The Frustrated Floorwalker." These were all from his first album released.
Perkins was born in Peterborough, the son of John Edward Sharman Perkins, an agricultural engineer, and his wife Margaret Charlotte Long. His brother Christopher Perkins became a noted artist, and both boys were educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk. Frank attended Rugby School (1902–1904), Gresham's (1904–1907), and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, (1907–1910) gaining a pass degree in mechanical engineering in 1910.
War service
At the beginning of the First World War, Perkins quickly volunteered, and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers, serving in its 34th divisional company in the Dardanelles, Palestine, and Egypt. He was demobilized in 1918 with the rank of major.
Career
He was a third generation engineer, following both his grandfather and father, who both worked for Barford and Perkins, a family firm that manufactured road constructionrollers/compactors, agricultural rollers, and other agriculturalmachinery. However, before joining the family firm at its Queen Street ironworks in Peterborough, he worked for Lawes Chemicals Ltd.
Kentucky Trotter
Composer: Frank Perkins
Performer: Frank Perkins And His "Pops" Orchestra
Label: Decca - 9-28965
Recorded: 1953
published: 14 Aug 2012
Frank Perkins (1908-1988) Popgun Patrol
Popgun Patrol was released on the Brunswick label in 1955 (LA 8708) and played by the composer's own orchestra. Frank Perkins gained a degree in Economics at university, but he soon discarded the idea of a financial career for his first love, music. After studying in both America and Europe, he became noticed in 1934 following a successful collaboration with lyricist Mitchell Parrish which resulted in Stars Fell on Alabama and Emmaline. At the end of the decade he settled in Hollywood, where his name can be spotted in the music credits for many Warner Bros. pictures during the war years. Later he tended to concentrate more on light orchestral works for concert performance producing some catchy novelties with intriguing titles such as Kentucky Trotter, The Frustrated Floorwalker and The De...
published: 02 Jun 2017
• Fandango – Frank Perkins - T.W.O
T.W.O - Technion Wind Orchestra
Conductor : David (Dudi) Sofer
26.6.2022
Churchill hall, Haifa
Israel
published: 18 Jan 2023
Frank Perkins Orchestra - Fandango
https://www.facebook.com/TheGoldeMusic
published: 03 Dec 2012
Frank Perkins - An Early Spring (1957)
Frank Perkins (1908-1988) was an American composer and pianist. Best known for his song "Stars Fall on Alabama" and his light pieceFandango, Perkins was active as a popular and light music composer in the mid-20th century. He also weote the music for the film The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964), and conducted film orchestras. An Early Spring is one of his light pieces that exists in a piano version, and appears to have never been recorded. It is also not held in any library.
published: 11 Mar 2024
Spanish Romance - Duet for Classical Guitar - Frank Perkins & Loren Appleyard
Spanish Romance : Duet version for classical Guitar, Written and arranged by Frank Perkins ARCM
performed by Frank Perkins & Loren Appleyard.
Guitars Dieter Hopf virtuoso and Raimundo 155
Video recorded by Simon Sylvester at The Footprint, St Catherine's Windermere
Audio recorded by Ben Metsers
published: 23 Apr 2015
Fandango (arr. F. Werle)
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Fandango (arr. F. Werle) · Dallas Wind Symphony
Fiesta!
℗ 2012 Reference Recordings
Released on: 2012-03-01
Conductor: Howard Dunn
Ensemble: Dallas Wind Symphony
Composer: Frank Perkins
Composer: Floyd Werle
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 21 May 2015
Fandango
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Fandango · Frank Perkins w/ his ‘Pops’ Orchestra · Frank Perkins
The Golden Age of Light Music: The Composer Conducts - Vol. 1
℗ 2011 Guild Light Music
Released on: 2011-03-15
Music Publisher: Belwin Mills Publish
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 04 Feb 2015
Fandango - Frank Perkins, arr. Jan Bosveld
Bondsconcours 2011 - Fanfare Eendracht Dieteren o.l.v. Maurice Daemen
published: 16 Dec 2018
Fandango by Frank Perkins arr. Jeannie Murrow at 2018 ISYM Clarinet Week
Popgun Patrol was released on the Brunswick label in 1955 (LA 8708) and played by the composer's own orchestra. Frank Perkins gained a degree in Economics at u...
Popgun Patrol was released on the Brunswick label in 1955 (LA 8708) and played by the composer's own orchestra. Frank Perkins gained a degree in Economics at university, but he soon discarded the idea of a financial career for his first love, music. After studying in both America and Europe, he became noticed in 1934 following a successful collaboration with lyricist Mitchell Parrish which resulted in Stars Fell on Alabama and Emmaline. At the end of the decade he settled in Hollywood, where his name can be spotted in the music credits for many Warner Bros. pictures during the war years. Later he tended to concentrate more on light orchestral works for concert performance producing some catchy novelties with intriguing titles such as Kentucky Trotter, The Frustrated Floorwalker and The Deserted Patio. One of his biggest hits was Fandango which also became a song with the benefit of an added lyric by John Bradford. In 1962 Frank received an Oscar nomination for his work scoring the musical "Gypsy". Popgun Patrol is played by the Frank Perkins "Pop" Orchestra and is the opening track on the "Childhood Memories" Vol 2 CD from the Guild Light Music series.
Popgun Patrol was released on the Brunswick label in 1955 (LA 8708) and played by the composer's own orchestra. Frank Perkins gained a degree in Economics at university, but he soon discarded the idea of a financial career for his first love, music. After studying in both America and Europe, he became noticed in 1934 following a successful collaboration with lyricist Mitchell Parrish which resulted in Stars Fell on Alabama and Emmaline. At the end of the decade he settled in Hollywood, where his name can be spotted in the music credits for many Warner Bros. pictures during the war years. Later he tended to concentrate more on light orchestral works for concert performance producing some catchy novelties with intriguing titles such as Kentucky Trotter, The Frustrated Floorwalker and The Deserted Patio. One of his biggest hits was Fandango which also became a song with the benefit of an added lyric by John Bradford. In 1962 Frank received an Oscar nomination for his work scoring the musical "Gypsy". Popgun Patrol is played by the Frank Perkins "Pop" Orchestra and is the opening track on the "Childhood Memories" Vol 2 CD from the Guild Light Music series.
Frank Perkins (1908-1988) was an American composer and pianist. Best known for his song "Stars Fall on Alabama" and his light pieceFandango, Perkins was active...
Frank Perkins (1908-1988) was an American composer and pianist. Best known for his song "Stars Fall on Alabama" and his light pieceFandango, Perkins was active as a popular and light music composer in the mid-20th century. He also weote the music for the film The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964), and conducted film orchestras. An Early Spring is one of his light pieces that exists in a piano version, and appears to have never been recorded. It is also not held in any library.
Frank Perkins (1908-1988) was an American composer and pianist. Best known for his song "Stars Fall on Alabama" and his light pieceFandango, Perkins was active as a popular and light music composer in the mid-20th century. He also weote the music for the film The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964), and conducted film orchestras. An Early Spring is one of his light pieces that exists in a piano version, and appears to have never been recorded. It is also not held in any library.
Spanish Romance : Duet version for classical Guitar, Written and arranged by Frank Perkins ARCM
performed by Frank Perkins & Loren Appleyard.
Guitars Dieter Ho...
Spanish Romance : Duet version for classical Guitar, Written and arranged by Frank Perkins ARCM
performed by Frank Perkins & Loren Appleyard.
Guitars Dieter Hopf virtuoso and Raimundo 155
Video recorded by Simon Sylvester at The Footprint, St Catherine's Windermere
Audio recorded by Ben Metsers
Spanish Romance : Duet version for classical Guitar, Written and arranged by Frank Perkins ARCM
performed by Frank Perkins & Loren Appleyard.
Guitars Dieter Hopf virtuoso and Raimundo 155
Video recorded by Simon Sylvester at The Footprint, St Catherine's Windermere
Audio recorded by Ben Metsers
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Fandango (arr. F. Werle) · Dallas Wind Symphony
Fiesta!
℗ 2012 Reference Recordings
Released on: 2012-03-01
Conduct...
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Fandango (arr. F. Werle) · Dallas Wind Symphony
Fiesta!
℗ 2012 Reference Recordings
Released on: 2012-03-01
Conductor: Howard Dunn
Ensemble: Dallas Wind Symphony
Composer: Frank Perkins
Composer: Floyd Werle
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Fandango (arr. F. Werle) · Dallas Wind Symphony
Fiesta!
℗ 2012 Reference Recordings
Released on: 2012-03-01
Conductor: Howard Dunn
Ensemble: Dallas Wind Symphony
Composer: Frank Perkins
Composer: Floyd Werle
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Fandango · Frank Perkins w/ his ‘Pops’ Orchestra · Frank Perkins
The Golden Age of Light Music: The Composer Co...
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Fandango · Frank Perkins w/ his ‘Pops’ Orchestra · Frank Perkins
The Golden Age of Light Music: The Composer Conducts - Vol. 1
℗ 2011 Guild Light Music
Released on: 2011-03-15
Music Publisher: Belwin Mills Publish
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Fandango · Frank Perkins w/ his ‘Pops’ Orchestra · Frank Perkins
The Golden Age of Light Music: The Composer Conducts - Vol. 1
℗ 2011 Guild Light Music
Released on: 2011-03-15
Music Publisher: Belwin Mills Publish
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Popgun Patrol was released on the Brunswick label in 1955 (LA 8708) and played by the composer's own orchestra. Frank Perkins gained a degree in Economics at university, but he soon discarded the idea of a financial career for his first love, music. After studying in both America and Europe, he became noticed in 1934 following a successful collaboration with lyricist Mitchell Parrish which resulted in Stars Fell on Alabama and Emmaline. At the end of the decade he settled in Hollywood, where his name can be spotted in the music credits for many Warner Bros. pictures during the war years. Later he tended to concentrate more on light orchestral works for concert performance producing some catchy novelties with intriguing titles such as Kentucky Trotter, The Frustrated Floorwalker and The Deserted Patio. One of his biggest hits was Fandango which also became a song with the benefit of an added lyric by John Bradford. In 1962 Frank received an Oscar nomination for his work scoring the musical "Gypsy". Popgun Patrol is played by the Frank Perkins "Pop" Orchestra and is the opening track on the "Childhood Memories" Vol 2 CD from the Guild Light Music series.
Frank Perkins (1908-1988) was an American composer and pianist. Best known for his song "Stars Fall on Alabama" and his light pieceFandango, Perkins was active as a popular and light music composer in the mid-20th century. He also weote the music for the film The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964), and conducted film orchestras. An Early Spring is one of his light pieces that exists in a piano version, and appears to have never been recorded. It is also not held in any library.
Spanish Romance : Duet version for classical Guitar, Written and arranged by Frank Perkins ARCM
performed by Frank Perkins & Loren Appleyard.
Guitars Dieter Hopf virtuoso and Raimundo 155
Video recorded by Simon Sylvester at The Footprint, St Catherine's Windermere
Audio recorded by Ben Metsers
Provided to YouTube by NAXOS of America
Fandango (arr. F. Werle) · Dallas Wind Symphony
Fiesta!
℗ 2012 Reference Recordings
Released on: 2012-03-01
Conductor: Howard Dunn
Ensemble: Dallas Wind Symphony
Composer: Frank Perkins
Composer: Floyd Werle
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Fandango · Frank Perkins w/ his ‘Pops’ Orchestra · Frank Perkins
The Golden Age of Light Music: The Composer Conducts - Vol. 1
℗ 2011 Guild Light Music
Released on: 2011-03-15
Music Publisher: Belwin Mills Publish
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Frank S. Perkins (April 21, 1908 in Salem, Massachusetts – March 15, 1988 in Los Angeles, California) was an American song composer best known for the song "Stars Fell on Alabama" (with lyrics by Mitchell Parish) and his band classic, Fandango. He earned his Ph.B from Brown University in Providence, RI in economics in 1929. Although he was an accomplished pianist, by graduation he could play organ, trombone, saxophone and all the percussion instruments. He studied with noted composer and educator Tibor Serly, who was a student of Zoltán Kodály and also worked with Béla Bartók. Upon graduation, Perkins toured Europe and returned to form his own dance band and become a song writer. In 1934 he joined Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians and remained with them as arranger until 1938 when he joined Warner Brothers as a composer and conductor, where he remained for many years.
Decca records called upon Perkins to record some of his own light compositions on LP's in the 1950s. Some of those he recorded were "Kentucky Trotter," "The Deserted Patio," "Barbara," "Pop-Gun Patrol,", "Fandango," "Feliciana," "Escapade," and "The Frustrated Floorwalker." These were all from his first album released.