Frank Fafara
Coming of age during the exciting and optimistic 1950’s, Frank Fafara went from picking up the guitar and writing a few songs, to becoming a bona fide Teen Idol in under two years. In 1959, Frank landed an impromptu gig in a high school gymnasium with his friend, guitarist Richard Meyer. Immediately after strumming their first chord the bleachers emptied and his new found fans rushed the stage. Instantly knowing a career in music was his destiny, Frank started to seriously pursue his passion. His live shows and song demos caught the attention of Phoenix music journalist Jack Curtis who put Frank in the studio with session great Al Casey. MCI Records quickly inked the handsome youngster and released Frank’s first single “Only in My Dreams” b/w “Gotta Get To You,” this just months after his life changing high school gig. The release was an instant success catapulting the young singer to the top of the regional charts. Frank was soon sharing the stage with such luminaries as The Everly Brothers, Conway Twitty, Del Shannon and Brenda Lee. He gigged at the top teen clubs and appeared regularly on the Saturday night TV show “Teen Beat,” and iconic TV daily “The Wallace and Ladmo Show.” Multiple singles followed with releases on both the MCI and Mascot labels. Frank also kept busy penning hits for labelmates Jim Boyd, The Playthings, and Nancy Barry.
By the mid 1960s Frank was past the Teen Idol stage. Changing his moniker to Frank Fara he ventured into counter-culture Folk songs and finally transitioned into Country music. He once again found success with his traveling Country road show “The Frank Fara Show featuring Patty Parker.” His band relentlessly toured the United States and Canada, and once again found himself in the recording studio cutting sides with Patty Parker. In 1978 Frank, and now wife Patty, formed Comstock Records. This transitioned Frank into the next chapter of his musical journey, record industry executive. You can read more abut this phase of his career on the Comstock Records page.
The music of Frank Fafara epitomizes the era of Teen Idols and great Pop songs, and continues through his days of the counter-culture Folk era. Frank’s songs have been heard on such high-profile shows as “Girls” (HBO), “American Horror Story” (FX), and “The Good Wife” (ABC).
