Slay, Frank C., Jr., 1930-2017

Name: Frank Slay
Estimated Age: 16
Birth Year: abt 1931
Yearbook Date: 1947
School: Sunset High School
School Location: Dallas, Texas, USA

In 1953, Crewe met and partnered professionally with Frank Slay Jr., a young pianist from Texas. Their collaboration created several hit songs (as well as a small record label, XYZ), for which Crewe performed as the demo singer.[2] Crewe and Slay's 1957 recording session with the Rays for XYZ (picked up nationally by Cameo Records) produced two major hit songs.[2] "Silhouettes", produced by Crewe, became a doo-wop anthem of the era.[2] Climbing to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957, "Silhouettes" displayed the flair for story-driven lyrics, innovative musical hooks, and final lyrical twists that were to become known as Crewe trademarks. In 1965, with a slightly faster tempo, "Silhouettes" again became a hit, this time for the British group Herman's Hermits, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Bob Dylan recorded "Silhouettes" during his legendary Basement Tapes sessions of the late 1960s, although his version was not released until 2014.[3]

"Daddy Cool" was the B-side of the Rays' "Silhouettes" single. Written and produced by Crewe and Slay at the same 1957 session, it achieved considerable note. Both "Daddy Cool" and "Silhouettes" were covered the same year by the Canadian group the Diamonds, whose version of "Daddy Cool" reached No. 10 on the Billboard charts. In 1961, Guy "Daddy Cool" Darrell released another single version on the Warwick label, and in 1977, the UK band Darts made the song their first-ever studio recording, scoring a No. 6 hit.

Crewe and Slay built on their success by signing a deal with new, Philadelphia-based Swan Records. Sessions with Billy and Lillie (singers Billy Ford and Lillie Bryant) produced the 1958 hit "Lah Dee Dah", which reached the No. 9 position on the Billboard Hot 100; the following year, Billy and Lillie's recording of "Lucky Ladybug" hit No. 14. Crewe and Slay also wrote two Top 10 hits - "Tallahassee Lassie" and "Okefenokee" - for Swan's rising star Freddy Cannon.[citation needed] Crewe also began to score his own hits, "Sweetie Pie" (US No. 111, 1959)[4] and "The Whiffenpoof Song" (No. 96, 1960).[5]

Frank Conley Slay Jr. (July 8, 1930 – September 30, 2017) was an American songwriter, A&R director, record producer, and record label owner. He wrote with Bob Crewe in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the partnership's most successful songs including "Silhouettes", a hit for several artists including The Rays and Herman's Hermits, "Daddy Cool", and "Tallahassee Lassie". As a producer, his biggest hit was "Incense and Peppermints" by the Strawberry Alarm Clock.[1]

Career
He was born in Dallas, Texas, and moved to New York City in 1951, attempting to find work as a songwriter. In 1957 he and Crewe wrote "Silhouettes" and "Daddy Cool" for the Rays.[2] Initially released on the XYZ label set up by Slay and Crewe, "Silhouettes" became a top ten pop hit in the US for both the Rays (#3) and the Diamonds (#10), and was re-recorded successfully by Herman's Hermits in 1965 (#5 US, #3 UK), and Cliff Richard in 1990 (#10 UK). The song "Daddy Cool" – originally on the B-side of the Rays' single – became a #6 hit in the UK in 1977 for Darts.[3] Slay and Crewe also wrote hits for Billy & Lillie, including "La Dee Dah" (covered in the UK by Jackie Dennis), and Freddy Cannon, for whom "Tallahassee Lassie" became a top ten hit in 1959.[3]

In 1961, Slay moved to Philadelphia to become A&R Director for Swan Records, Cannon's record label.[2] As well as producing many of Freddy Cannon's records, he also had a minor hit under his own name in late 1961, "Flying Circle", an instrumental adaptation of the traditional song "Hava Nagila", which reached #45 on the Billboard pop chart credited to Frank Slay and his Orchestra.[4] Slay moved back to New York around 1963, and then to Los Angeles. He worked as an independent producer, and in 1967 produced "Incense and Peppermints", a US #1 hit for Strawberry Alarm Clock.[5] He also set up Claridge Records in 1965. In 1974 the label had a US hit with "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You" by Sugarloaf, a record described by Slay as "probably ... the last top ten record on Billboard by a truly independent record company ..."[2]

Slay remained active in the music industry and last lived in San Diego, California.[2]

Name: Frank Conley Slay
Estimated Age: 20
Birth Year: abt 1931
Yearbook Date: 1951
School: University of Texas
School Location: Austin, Texas, USA

July 8, 1930 - September 30, 2017 Frank Conley Slay died Saturday, September 30, 2017 in San Diego, age 87. He is survived by sister Sarah Slay Chalk, sister-in-law Bettye Slay, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by parents Frank and Esther Slay and brother, John D. Slay, of Dallas. Frank was born on July 8, 1930, in Dallas, TX, earned a University of Texas Business degree in 1951, and moved to New York City to begin a long, successful popular music career as a well-known writer, arranger, publisher and independent record producer. Hits with Bob Crewe include "Silhouettes" and "Tallahassee Lassie". In Philadelphia, he and Dick Clark published Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons hits, which appear in "Jersey Boys". In 1960's Hollywood, Frank's Claridge Music Group produced "psychedelic" songs, including "Incense and Peppermints" and "Green-eyed Lady". A classically trained piainist, Frank also played a rollicking Boogie Woogie. Lately of San Diego, he enjoyed global travel, fine dining, and the local music scene. Frank was determined, smart, talented, fun, generous, and loyal. He will be greatly missed. Memorial Service Sunday, October 15 at 2:00pm at University Christian Church, reception following. Donations to UCC, 3900 Cleveland Ave, San Diego, CA 92103. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Slay