Frank Motley facts for kids

Frank Motley, Jr. (born December 30, 1923 – died May 31, 1998) was an American musician. He played R&B and jazz music. Frank Motley was a bandleader and played the trumpet. He was famous for playing two trumpets at the same time! He also sang in his bands.

About Frank Motley, Jr.

Frank Motley, Jr. was a talented musician. He spent a lot of his career playing music in Canada. His unique way of playing two trumpets made him stand out. He created many popular songs.

Early Life and Musical Start

Frank Motley, Jr. was born in Cheraw, South Carolina. When he was young, he took trumpet lessons. His teacher was the famous jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie. Dizzy Gillespie was also from Cheraw. Frank Motley learned to play two trumpets at once. People called him "Dual Trumpet" or "Two Horn" Motley.

He went to South Carolina State College. There, he studied mechanical engineering. After college, he joined the military. He played in the Navy Band. They entertained troops in the Pacific Ocean during the war.

Building His Music Career

After the war, Frank Motley played in nightclubs. He played in New York City for a while. Then, he moved to Washington, D.C.. In 1949, he started his own band.

Starting in 1951, he recorded many songs. He recorded for DC Records. Other big music companies like RCA Victor and Specialty also released his music. His band was called The Motley Crew. Important members included singer and keyboard player Curley Bridges. Thomas E. ‘TNT’ Tribble was the drummer. Elsie "Angel Face" Kenley was a singer.

Success in Canada

From 1952, Frank Motley played mostly in Canada. He moved to Toronto in 1955 after getting married. Even though he lived in Canada, he still played and recorded music in the United States.

His biggest hit song came in 1963. He recorded a song called "Any Other Way." He sang it with Jackie Shane. This song became very popular in Toronto. It reached number 2 on the local pop music charts.

Later Years and Legacy

Frank Motley stopped playing with The Motley Crew in 1966. He then formed a new band in Toronto. This band was called The Hitch-Hikers. Jackie Shane sang with them at first. Later, Earle "The Mighty Pope" Heedram became their singer. The Hitch-Hikers broke up in 1970.

Frank Motley continued to play music. He formed another band called The Bridge Crossings. He played with them until the mid-1980s. After that, his health started to decline. He moved to Durham, North Carolina. He still played in local dance bands there.

Frank Motley, Jr. passed away in Durham in 1998. He was 74 years old.