Masters, Frankie

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Frankie Masters was born in 1904 in the Chicago area. He dropped out of college in the 1920s to work in a house band and eventaully organized his own dance band, playing in Chicago theaters until he was booked into the College Inn of the Sherman Hotel for four years. He married his top vocalist, Phyllis Miles, to whom he was married until his death in 1990. He became a nationally-known band leader with his record hit, "Scatterbrain". By the early 1940s Masters was one of the most successful dance bands of his generation. He acquired a regular spot on Coca Cola Company's Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands. In 1945 the band moved to the St. Francis Hotel in California. Several years later Masters returned to Chicago to the Conrad Hilton from where he retired as the big bands began to decline in the late 1950s with the advent of rock and roll. In the late 1960s he came out of retirement and played in the Chicago area until the mid-1980s. He appeared on "This Is Your Life" in 1978 in Hollywood.

From the guide to the Frankie Masters papers, 1927-1990, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)

Frankie Masters was born in 1904 in the Chicago area. He dropped out of college in the 1920s to work in a house band and eventually organized his own dance band, playing in Chicago theaters until he was booked into the College Inn of the Sherman Hotel for four years. He married his top vocalist, Phyllis Miles, to whom he was married until his death in 1990. He became a nationally-known band leader with his record hit, "Scatterbrain". By the early 1940s, Masters had one of the most successful dance bands of his generation. He acquired a regular spot on Coca Cola Company's Victory Parade of Spotlight Bands. In 1945 the band moved to the St. Francis Hotel in California. Several years later Masters returned to Chicago to the Conrad Hilton from where he retired as the big bands began to decline in the late 1950s with the advent of rock and roll. In the late 1960s he came out of retirement and played in the Chicago area until the mid-1980s. He appeared on "This Is Your Life" in 1978 in Hollywood.

From the description of Frankie Masters papers, 1927-1990. (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 65471584

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Johnny Green additional papers, 1923-1989. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Frankie Masters papers, 1927-1990 Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
referencedIn Vogue Picture Disc Collection, 1946-1947 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Masters, Frankie. Frankie Masters papers, 1927-1990. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Green, Johnny, 1908-1989 person
associatedWith Masters, Phyllis person
associatedWith Masters, Phyllis. person
associatedWith Vogue Record Company. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Subject
Arrangers (Musicians)
Arrangers (Musicians)
Big band music
Big bands
Dance orchestra music
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1904-04-12

Death 1991-01-29

Americans

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