Frank Weir

Frank Weir (30 January 1911 – 12 May 1981)[1] was a British orchestra leader and jazz musician. He reached No.1 on the UK Singles Chart in 1954 with Vera Lynn and the song "My Son, My Son",[2] and with positive reviews in Variety, Cash Box and Billboard.[3]

Frank Weir
Born(1911-01-30)30 January 1911
London, England, UK
Died12 May 1981(1981-05-12) (aged 70)
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Orchestra leader
InstrumentsSaxophone, clarinet
LabelsDecca
Associated actsVera Lynn

His version of "The Happy Wanderer" became one of the most popular recordings of 1954, in both the UK and the US. It featured Weir's soprano saxophone solos between verses. It reached #12 on the NME's short-lived "Best Selling Singles By British Artists" chart in 1954, on which "The Little Shoemaker" made #10 and "The Never Never Land" made #4.[4] Six years later in 1960, he had his final hit with "Caribbean Honeymoon", which reached a peak position of #42 on the UK Singles Chart.[1]

Other recordings

  • "Mister Cuckoo" / "If Ever You Go To Paree" - Parlophone R4157
  • "What a Difference a Day Makes" / "Together" - Decca F8501
  • "The Never Never Land" / "The Little Shoemaker" - Decca F 10324 (1954)
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References

  1. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 595. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  2. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 334. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. Billboard 23 October 1954 Nielsen Business Media, Inc. ISSN 0006-2510 at Google Books
  4. "NME: Bestselling Discs by British Artists, 1954 (Weekly) in Research Links Forum, Whirligig Message Board". Whirligig. 16 July 2006. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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