Frank Capp


Francis Cappuccio, known professionally as Frank Capp, was an American jazz drummer. Capp also played on numerous rock and roll sessions and is considered to be a member of the Wrecking Crew.

Biography

Capp was born Francis Cappuccio in Worcester, Massachusetts, United States. He began playing with Stan Kenton in early 1952 and remained with Kenton until the end of that year. He then joined Neal Hefti's group. He often accompanied Peggy Lee on her road dates and subsequently went to Los Angeles where he joined Billy May, and recorded with The Wrecking Crew. He played with Ella Fitzgerald, Harry James, Charlie Barnet, Stan Getz, Art Pepper, and Dave Pell. He recorded often with André Previn's trio, and also made records with Benny Goodman, Terry Gibbs, and Turk Murphy.
Capp worked steadily on television shows and in the film studios in the 1960s. He spent more than 13 years as drummer for the David Rose Orchestra on The Red Skelton Show. Starting in the 1970s, he recorded extensively in a variety of settings for Concord. Together with Nat Pierce he founded the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut big band in 1975.
In his later years, he resided with his partner Lori Singman in Studio City, California, and performed every Tuesday at Las Hadas Restaurant in Northridge, California, accompanied by his fellow jazz colleagues. In 2016, Capp wrote and published his autobiography Drumming Up Business: My Life in Music.
Frank Capp died in September 2017 in Studio City, at the age of 86.

Selected discography

As leader

With Nat Pierce
With The Frank Capp Juggernaut
  • In a Hefti Bag
  • ''Play It Again Sam''

As sideman

With The Beach BoysThe Beach Boys' Christmas Album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) Pet Sounds Sunflower Surf's Up Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"
With Beaver & KrauseAll Good Men
With Michael BubléMichael Bublé It's Time
With CherAll I Really Want to Do Chér
With Stan KentonCity of Glass Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton This Modern World
With André PrevinKing Size! Dinah Sings, Previn Plays with Dinah Shore Like Previn! André Previn and J. J. Johnson with J. J. Johnson Duet with Doris Day
With The RonettesPresenting the Fabulous Ronettes
With Bud Shank Girl in Love Bud Shank Plays Music from Today's Movies
With Frank SinatraThat's Life The World We Knew
With Sonny & CherLook at Us In Case You're in Love
With others