A brother with talented music skills…
Grammy and Golden Globe nominated artist Frank Stallone has been everything from a street singer, to a rock singer, to a big band singer. Who has composed & published more than 200 of his own songs.
At a young age, the Maryland-born native pursued his musical ambitions, forming a series of bands in high school, and turning professional at age15, performing in clubs, and at times, would open for national recording artists that came through town. Frank’s longest-lasting band, Valentine, included John Oates, of Hall & Oates. Frank eventually landed in New York, where he performed on street corners and made the rounds, performing in coffee houses in Greenwich Village to make ends meet.
“Some nights it was so cold, that my guitar strings froze, and my fingers wouldn’t move. All I owned was the guitar on my back, and a duffle bag for my clothes. If I was lucky, I made five dollars a night. Frank recalls, “One night I was standing on Third Avenue playing my guitar, when this big Irish policeman came strolling by, and stopped to listen to singing and playing . When I was done, he politely handed me a ticket for disturbing the peace, while at the same time telling me how much he liked my voice. I wish I still had that ticket,” continues Frank.
Frank’s musical ambitions were paralleled by his brother, Sylvester’s acting ambitions, who at the time was performing in off-Broadway shows when he had the chance. The two decided to join forces and became ushers at the little Carnegie Theater, in which, they were unceremoniously asked to leave, because their hair was to long and they were wearing improper attire, namely painted cowboy boots with their tuxedos – those being the only shoes they had.
It was when Sylvester moved to California to begin a film career, that the two brothers’ worlds really came together again, affording Frank his first big break into the mainstream. Sylvester’s low-budget film, that happened to transform into one of the most successful and enduring movies in motion picture history, needed a group of street corner singers – that movie was “Rocky.”
His a-capella, self-penned song, Take You Back, resulted in becoming one of the film’s most unforgettable street corner scenes.
Frank finally decided to move to California . It was there, that he coincidentally moved next door to his musical idol, the legendary Harry Nilsson. “I not only got to meet Harry, but we got to record together,” smiles Frank. A dream came true for Frank when the duo collaborated on the Joni Mitchell classic, Case Of You, in which Frank sang, and Nilsson produced. The single garnered great acclaim, and reached #67 on the Billboard charts, Frank’s second charted record.
It was Frank’s recordings for the Saturday Night Fever Sequel “Staying Alive” soundtrack, that gained him the respect of both his industry peers and critics alike when he received a 1983 Golden Globe nomination for “Best Soundtrack”; and a Grammy nomination for “Best Original Song,” with his single, Far From Over. That song became a massive Number#1 hit around the world , and stayed on the charts for more than four months.
Over the course of the last two decades, Frank has garnered Three Platinum Albums and 10 Gold Albums and Five Gold Singles. And has
acted in to 50 films. One of his most memorable on-screen appearances was his role as Eddie the bartender in “Barfly,” which gave rise to serious consideration for an Academy Award nomination, and won the acclaim of renowned film critic Roger Ebert of the “Chicago Sun Times”: “Barfly is a terrific film that features an outstanding performance by Frank Stallone he’s both captivating and terrifying at the same time!”
Frank has recorded 7 solo albums and has written and sung on 8 movie sound tracks. The rock-influenced Full Circle, “ which I feel is my best” followed by His American Songbook albums, IN LOVE IN VAIN, With Sammy Nestico, Frankie & Billy with Billy May and Soft and Low. He simultaneously released Stallone On Stallone, By Request a compilation of Frank’s film soundtrack tunes, and Songs From The Saddle showing Frank’s more acoustic side. Frank also, over the last several years, has taken his love of the big band sound on the road, performing all around the world in concert halls from Los Angeles to London, where he has garnered critical acclaim from such publications as the “New York Daily News”…”He has the crowd enthralled.”.
Frank also combines all his hits in his shows playing Acoustic and Electric guitar. It’s all in a days work for this multi faceted artist.
Words & pictures from the official Frank Stallone website.
Selected Discography
Frank Stallone
Simba Records 2006
Tracks: Far From Over, Music Is Magic, Love Is A Light, Darlin´, If We Ever Get Back, Runnin´, She´s So Popular, Once More Never Again, I Do Belive In You & Fly Together.
Musicians on the Frank Stallone album: Frank Stallone, Vince DiCola, Scott Shelly, Paul Merar, George Perilli, Doane Perry, Jerry Hey, Chuck Findley, Larry Williams, Bill Reichenbach, Paulinho Da Costa, Snuffy Walden, Bob Tangrea & David Pearlman.
Stallone On Stallone By Request
Simba Records 2002
Tracks: Far From Over (Staying Alive), Never Going To Give You Up (Staying Alive), I Hope We Never Change (Staying Alive), Love Is Like A Light, Moodys Girl (Staying Alive), Once More Never Again (Staying Alive), If We Ever Get Back, Finding Out The Hard Way (Staying Alive), Waking Up (Staying Alive), Take You Back/Street Corner Song (Rocky), Na Na Ninni/Two Kinds Of Love (Rocky II), Bad Nite (Over The Top) & Peace In Our Life (Rambo II).
Musicians on the Stallone On Stallone By Request album: Frank Stallone, Vince Di Cola, Scott Shelly, George Perilli, Paul Merar, Joe Bean Esposito, Doane Perry, Paulinho Da Costa, Jerry Hey, Chuck Findley, Bill Reichenbach, Larry Williams, Bob Tangrea, Jody Giambelucca, Bill Ring, Peter Glassberg, Peter Schless & Jerry Goldsmith.
Frank Stallone
RSO Records 1983
Tracks: Runnin´, Music Is Magic, Love Is A Light, Darlin´, If We Ever Get Back, Far From Over, She´s So Popular, Once More Never Again, I Do Belive In You & Fly Together.
Musicians on the Frank Stallone album: Frank Stallone, Vince DiCola, Scott Shelly, Paul Merar, George Perilli, Doane Perry, Jerry Hey, Chuck Findley, Larry Williams, Bill Reichenbach, Paulinho Da Costa, Snuffy Walden, Bob Tangrea & David Pearlman.