Frank Gibson Jr. (19 February 1946 – 21 May 2025) was a New Zealand jazz drummer and drum tutor. Gibson was the founder of Dr Tree and toured with stars such as

Dionne Warwick Marie Dionne Warwick ( ; born Marie Dionne Warrick; December 12, 1940) is an American singer, actress, and television host. During her career, Warwick has won many awards, including six Grammy Awards. She has been inducted into the Hollywood Wa ...

The Temptations The Temptations is an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961 as The Elgins, known for their string of successful singles and albums with Motown from the 1960s to the mid-1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield ...

and

Glen Campbell Glen Travis Campbell (April 22, 1936 – August 8, 2017) was an American country musician and actor. He was best known for a series of hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s, and for hosting ''The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour'' on CBS television from ...

before moving to the UK in 1977 where he became a highly sought-after session and

studio musician A session musician (also known as studio musician or backing musician) is a musician hired to perform in a recording session or a live performance. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a record ...

, and toured with

Dusty Springfield Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien (16 April 1939 – 2 March 1999), better known by her stage name Dusty Springfield, was a British singer. With her distinctive mezzo-soprano voice, she was a popular singer of blue-eyed soul, Pop mus ...

and

Leo Sayer Leo Sayer (born Gerard Hugh Sayer, 21 May 1948) is an English-Australian singer and songwriter who has been active since the early 1970s. He has been an Australian citizen and resident since 2009. Sayer launched his career in the United Kingd ...

. Gibson returned to New Zealand, formed "Space Case", and produced three albums. Gibson performed at the

1990 Commonwealth Games The 1990 Commonwealth Games () were held in Auckland, New Zealand from 24 January – 3 February 1990. It was the 14th Commonwealth Games, and part of New Zealand's 1990 sesquicentennial celebrations. Participants competed in ten sports: at ...

opening ceremony. In 1992, he joined the

Edith Cowan University Edith Cowan University (ECU) is a public research university in Western Australia. It is named in honour of the first woman to be elected to an Parliaments of the Australian states and territories, Australian parliament, Edith Cowan, and is, , t ...

as full-time lecturer in jazz music for five years. Gibson was the winner of the three New Zealand Best Jazz albums. In 1983, he was inducted into the

Zildjian The Avedis Zildjian Company, simply known as Zildjian (), is a musical instrument manufacturer specializing in cymbals and other percussion instruments. Founded by the ethnic Armenian Zildjian family in the 17th-century Ottoman Empire, the com ...

hall of fame.

Career

New Zealand before 1977

Before going to the UK in 1977, Gibson had formed Dr Tree, the first

jazz fusion Jazz fusion (also known as jazz rock, jazz-rock fusion, or simply fusion) is a popular music genre that developed in the late 1960s when musicians combined jazz harmony and improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues. Electric gui ...

album in New Zealand, as well as working with The Neophonic Orchestra, and accompanying touring international stars such as

and

United Kingdom career

As a highly sought-after session and

, Gibson Jr. was active in the UK in the late 70s. As well as working with

David Essex David Essex (born David Albert Cook; 23 July 1947) is an English singer-songwriter and actor. From 1973 to 1994, he attained 19 Top 40 singles in the UK (including two number ones) and 16 Top 40 albums. Internationally, Essex had the most suc ...

on a live BBC TV show for six weeks, he played and toured with

. Together with fellow New Zealand session musician, bassist

Bruce Lynch Bruce Lynch (born 1 June 1948, in New Zealand) is an electric and acoustic bassist, producer and arranger. Music career Arriving in the UK in the mid-1970s, Lynch became a commercially successful session musician, touring extensively with C ...

, Gibson was an early member of

Morrissey–Mullen Morrissey–Mullen were a British jazz-funk/fusion group of the 1970s and 1980s. Considered one of the most popular jazz groups in London, the band was led by Dick Morrissey on tenor and soprano saxes and flute, and Jim Mullen on guitar, who ...

, a pioneering jazz-fusion group which had a heavy schedule in London, which included a two-week residency at

Ronnie Scott's Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club that has operated in Soho, London, since 1959. History The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was set up and managed by musicians Ronnie Sco ...

alternating sets with

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( ; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improvisation, improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy El ...

. He also played straight-ahead jazz with

Tony Lee Tony Lee is a British comics writer, screenwriter, audio playwright, and novelist. Early life Born in 1970, Tony Lee attended Hayes Manor School, now Rosedale College. Career A #1 ''New York Times'' bestselling writer, Lee has written for ...

, amongst others, before being "spotted" by

and joining him on a six-month world tour in 1978, and with whom he worked for three years. Other recordings during that time include

The Walker Brothers The Walker Brothers were an American pop group formed in Los Angeles in 1964 by John Walker (musician), John Walker (real name John Maus) and Scott Walker (singer), Scott Walker (real name Noel Scott Engel), with Gary Walker (musician), Gary Wal ...

' ''Nite Flights'', PAZ's "PAZ are Back", Ray Warleigh's ''Reverie'' (1977), with

John Taylor John Taylor, Johnny Taylor or similar is the name of: Academics *John Taylor (Oxford), Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, 1486–1487 * John Taylor (classical scholar) (1704–1766), English classical scholar *John Taylor (English publisher) ...

on piano and

Ron Mathewson Rognvald Andrew Mathewson (19 February 1944 – 3 December 2020) was a British jazz double bassist and bass guitarist. During his career, Mathewson performed with Ronnie Scott, but also recorded with Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Joan Armatra ...

on bass. Gibson and Lynch recorded with Rick Wakeman on "Rhapsodies" produced by Tony Visconti, also performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Drury Lane and on a television special in Munich. He also recorded on a comeback album for

Lonnie Donegan Anthony James "Lonnie" Donegan (29 April 1931 – 3 November 2002) was a British skiffle singer, songwriter and musician, referred to as the " King of Skiffle", who influenced 1960s British pop and rock musicians. Born in Scotland and brought ...

called ''Putting on the Style'' featuring

Elton John Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, songwriter and pianist. His music and showmanship have had a significant, lasting impact on the music industry, and his songwriting partnership with l ...

Brian May Sir Brian Harold May (born 19 July 1947) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer, animal welfare activist and astrophysics, astrophysicist. He achieved global fame as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the rock band Queen ...

and

Ray Cooper Raymond Cooper (born 19 September 1947) is an English musician who has worked as a session and road-tour percussionist. During his career, Cooper has worked and toured with numerous musically diverse bands and artists including Elton John (as ...

Return to New Zealand

Returning to New Zealand, Gibson formed "Space Case", the first New Zealand jazz-funk band, producing three albums and performing regularly. In 1992 Gibson joined the Western Australia Academy of Performing Arts at the

, as full-time lecturer in jazz music for five years. In New Zealand those he recorded with include

Alan Broadbent Alan Leonard Broadbent (born 23 April 1947) is a New Zealand jazz pianist, arranger, and composer known for his work with artists such as Sue Raney, Charlie Haden, Woody Herman, Chet Baker, Irene Kral, Sheila Jordan, Natalie Cole, Warne M ...

John Hanlon John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second Ep ...

, Malcolm McNeill, and Joy Yates &

Dave MacRae David Scott MacRae (born 2 April 1940, Auckland, New Zealand) is a New Zealand keyboardist, noted for his contributions in jazz and jazz rock, and his collaborations with musicians from the Canterbury scene. Life and career MacRae studied at th ...

. His album with

Mike Nock Michael Anthony Nock (born 27 September 1940) is a New Zealand jazz pianist, who lives and works in Australia. Biography Nock was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, but spent his childhood in Ngāruawāhia. Nock began studying piano at 11. H ...

, ''Open Door'', won the 1987 Best Jazz Album in New Zealand in 1987, Gibson's second such award (of three). He played live at the

opening ceremony. In 2007, he led a quartet with which features Matt Clohesy on bass, Sam Keevers on piano, and Jamie Oehlers on tenor sax. Gibson died in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

on 21 May 2025, at the age of 79.

Awards

Gibson won three Best Jazz Album awards including one for ''Open Door''. Gibson was inducted into the

hall of fame in 1983. In 2013, he was presented with a VAC Scroll of Honour by the

Variety Artists Club of New Zealand The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. The VAC was formed to promote goodwill within the New Zealand enterta ...

for his contribution to the New Zealand entertainment industry.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

*''Doctor Tree'' Frank Gibson's Doctor Tree (EMI NZ) *''Spreading the Word'' Frank Gibson's Jazzmobile (Kiwi Pacific Records N

*''Parallel 37'' (1982) Frank Gibson with

Milt Jackson Milton Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999), nicknamed "Bags", was an American jazz vibraphonist. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging solos as a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet and his penchant for collaborating with ...

John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951) is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he ...

Bobby Shew Bobby Shew (born March 4, 1941) is an American jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player. Biography He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. After leaving college in 1960, Shew was drafted into the U.S. Army and played trumpet and toured ...

, Steve Erquiaga and

– Jazz Record of the Year *''Open Door'' (1987) Frank Gibson and

– Jazz Record of the Year *''Executive Decision' '' Frank Gibson's Space Case (Ode Records NZ) *''Space Case 11'' Frank Gibson's Space Case featuring

Claudio Roditi Claudio Roditi (May 28, 1946 – January 17, 2020) was a Brazilian jazz trumpeter. In 1966 Claudio was named a trumpet finalist at the International Jazz Competition in Vienna, Austria. While in Vienna, Roditi met Art Farmer, one of his idols, an ...

and

Ron McClure Ron McClure (born November 22, 1941) is an American jazz bassist. Early life McClure was born in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. He started on piano at age five, and later played accordion and bass. McClure studied privately with Joseph I ...

(Ode Records NZ) *''Space Case 111'' Frank Gibson's Space Case (Ode Records NZ) *''Rainbow Bridge'' Frank Gibson Quartet (2003) *''Together Again'' Broadbent, Gibson and Smith (2009) Ode Records

As sideman

* ''Reverie'', Ray Warleigh 1977 * ''Something Else'',

Graham Dee Graham Dee (born Graham Davidson, 2 March 1943) is an English musician. Early life Graham Dee was born in Whitechapel, East London, England. Dee has lived his life with a neuromuscular disorder that results in a series of ticks, twitches, a ...

(Pye, London) * ''Puttin' on the Style'',

(Chrysalis) * ''Nite Flights'',

(GTO) * ''Half Brother'', (Arola Hansa) * ''Rhapsodies'',

Rick Wakeman Richard Christopher Wakeman (born 18 May 1949) is an English keyboardist and composer best known as a member of the progressive rock band Yes across five tenures between 1971 and 2004, and for his prolific solo career. AllMusic describes Wakema ...

(A&M) * ''Southern Excursion'', Brian Smith * ''Genre'',

Shona Laing Shona Laing (born 9 October 1955) is a New Zealand musician. She was raised in Eastbourne, a suburb of Lower Hutt, and was a student at Hutt Valley High School when her musical talents first came to public notice. Laing had several folk hits ...

1985 * ''The Masquerade is Over'', Jacqui Fitzgerald * ''Should I Be Good, Should I Be Evil'', Hammond Gamble 1985 * ''Iris'',

Phil Broadhurst Philip Douglas Broadhurst (26 June 1949 – 24 April 2020) was a New Zealand composer, jazz pianist, music lecturer and radio presenter. Education Broadhurst has a master's degree from Massey University, completed in 2007. His thesis examine ...

* ''The Song of Crazy Horse'', J.D. Blackfoot (Pye) * ''Song of Home'', Alan Broadbent Trio 1986 (Kiwi Pacific) * ''Everything I Love'', Alan Broadbent Trio 1987 (Trend Discovery) * ''Further Down the Road'', Alan Broadbent Trio 1987 (Kiwi Pacific) * ''Away from You'', Alan Broadbent Trio 1989 (Trend Discovery) * ''Over the Fence'', Alan Broadbent Trio 1989 (Ode) * ''Another Time'', Alan Broadbent Trio 1990 (Trend Discovery) * ''Fine and Dandy'', George Chisholm (Ode) * ''Detour Ahead'', Garry Lee, June Newman, John Green (1994) * ''Pacific Standard Time'', Alan Broadbent Trio, (Concord) 1995 * ''Suzanne'',

Suzanne Lynch Suzanne Joy Lynch (née Donaldson, born 11 December 1950) is a New Zealand singer who has worked professionally under the names Suzanne Donaldson, Suzanne Lynch and Suzanne. Career Lynch first came to wide public knowledge in the 1960s as hal ...

(EMI) * ''X'',

Tina Cross Tina Marie Cross (born 27 January 1959) is a New Zealand singer. She sang the winning entry in the 1979 Pacific Song Contest, and was the lead vocalist of synthpop band, Koo De Tah, whose single " Too Young for Promises" was a top ten hit in Au ...

(Pagan) * ''Strut'', Jamie Oehlers (Request) 1998 * ''Passion'', Julie Mason (Vox), 1998 * ''Tasman Connection'',

Don Burrows Donald Vernon Burrows (8 August 1928 – 12 March 2020) was an Australian jazz and swing musician who played clarinet, saxophone and flute. Life and career Donald Vernon Burrows was born on 8 August 1928, the only child of Vernon and Beryl an ...

(Cherry Pie) * ''Waiting for You'', Murray McNabb (Ode) * ''Paz are Back'', (Spotlite) * ''Resolution'', George Chisholm (Ode) * ''Auckland Jazz Ensemble'', George Chisholm (Ode) * ''Rendevouis'' Brian Smith (Ode) * ''Twelve O'Clock Tales'' Julie Mason (Vox), 2002 * ''Jazz meets Symphony'' Alan Broadbent Trio with Tierney Sutton (2003) * ''The Road Ahead'' Phil Broadhurst (Vox, 2003) * ''Estate (Summer)'' Julie Mason 2005 * Dan Papirany Trio – ''Live at MLC vol 1'' (2005)

References

External links

* *
AudioCulture profile
*
Frank Gibson Jr Still Keeping The Beat After Almost 70 Years, Stuff, 2021
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibson, Frank Jr. 1946 births 2025 deaths New Zealand drummers Morrissey–Mullen members New Zealand male drummers Jazz drummers New Zealand jazz musicians Male jazz musicians 20th-century drummers 20th-century New Zealand musicians 20th-century New Zealand male musicians 21st-century drummers 21st-century New Zealand musicians 21st-century New Zealand male musicians