Franny Beecher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Franny Beecher |
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Beecher in 1958
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Francis Eugene Beecher |
| Also known as | Frank Beecher |
| Born | September 29, 1921 Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | February 24, 2014 (aged 92) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, country |
| Instruments | guitar |
| Years active | 1940s–2014 (his death) |
| Associated acts | Benny Goodman Orchestra, Bill Haley & His Comets |
Francis Eugene Beecher (born September 29, 1921 – died February 24, 2014) was a super talented guitarist. He was best known as the lead guitarist for the famous rock and roll band, Bill Haley & His Comets, from 1954 to 1962. Franny Beecher was special because he mixed country music and jazz styles in his guitar solos. He even wrote some classic songs like "Blue Comet Blues" and "Week End." In 2012, he was honored by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Comets. This was done to correct a past mistake where the band members were not inducted with Bill Haley.
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Franny Beecher's Music Career
Before joining Bill Haley, Franny Beecher already had a long music career. In 1948, he played guitar with the famous Benny Goodman Orchestra. At that time, Benny Goodman was trying out a new style of jazz called bebop. Franny also worked with other big bands and country music groups. He played guitar on songs like "Baby I'm True to You" in 1947. His guitar playing inspired many young musicians in the Philadelphia and Reading areas.
Joining Bill Haley's Comets
Franny Beecher first worked with The Comets in late 1954. He was a session musician, meaning he was hired for recordings. He filled in for their guitarist, Danny Cedrone, who had passed away. Franny's first song with Bill Haley was "Dim, Dim the Lights." He was told to make his guitar solos less jazzy and more like country music, which they called "rockabilly."
In August 1955, Franny Beecher appeared on national TV with The Comets for the first time. They performed their hit song "Rock Around the Clock." Soon after, he became a full-time member of the band. He appeared in movies like Rock Around the Clock (1956) and Don't Knock the Rock (1956). He also appeared in films in Germany and Mexico.
His Unique Voice Trick
Franny Beecher had a fun trick: he could make his voice sound like a small child. This funny voice was used at the beginning of hit songs like "See You Later Alligator" and "Rip It Up." During live shows, he would sometimes do the voice, and Bill Haley would jokingly introduce him as a "baritone" (a low male voice). In 1959, Franny even sang two full verses in his kid-like voice on a song called "ABC Rock."
The Kingsmen and Beyond
In 1958, Franny Beecher and other Comets members recorded songs under a different name: The Kingsmen. They released a song called "Week End," which became a Top 40 hit, reaching number 35 on the Billboard charts.
Franny left The Comets in 1960 to work with another group, the Merri-Men. He returned to The Comets in 1961 but left again in 1962. After Bill Haley passed away in 1981, Franny toured with a Comets reunion group for a short time. Then, starting in 1987, the surviving members of The Comets from 1954-55 reunited. They toured the world and made new music for the next two decades. Franny performed with this group until 2006, when he retired at 85 years old.
Franny Beecher wrote many songs, including "Blue Comet Blues," "Goofin' Around," and "Shaky." His song "Week End" was a big hit for The Kingsmen. Other famous guitarists like Link Wray also recorded "Week End."
Franny's Guitars
When Franny Beecher played with The Comets, he often used a black 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar. The Gibson Guitar Company gave this guitar to him. He also played other guitars, including an Epiphone Emperor and a Gibson ES-350T. In his later years, he played a cherry sunburst Gibson ES-137 Classic at concerts.
Playing with Benny Goodman
Franny Beecher was the lead guitarist for the Benny Goodman Orchestra from 1948 to 1949. He appeared on a TV show called The Toast of the Town (which later became The Ed Sullivan Show) with Benny Goodman in December 1948. He is featured on two Benny Goodman albums: Modern Benny and Benny Goodman at the Hollywood Palladium.
His Final Years
Franny Beecher passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 24, 2014. He was 92 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Franny Beecher para niños
