Frank McComb
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Frank McComb (born July 15, 1970) is an American singer and record producer. He has collaborated with
Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...
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Branford Marsalis Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ens ...
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George Duke George Martin Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013) was an American keyboardist, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He worked with numerous artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and as ...
, Frankie Beverly & Maze,
Phyllis Hyman Phyllis Linda Hyman (July 6, 1949 – June 30, 1995) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Hyman's music career spanned the late 1970s through the early 1990s, and she was best known for her expansive contralto range. Some of her most ...
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Gamble and Huff Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production duo credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as ...
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, and John P. Kee.


Biography


Early career

Frank McComb began his career in February 1983 when an aunt began teaching him piano at the family church. Though he did attend a school for the performing arts in the mid-1980s, he found more recognition playing Cleveland nightclubs with seasoned musicians. By 1988, McComb was in high school fronting his own trio. After graduating from Glenville High School in Cleveland, McComb was asked to be in the band for
Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over the course of its first two decades, starting from the release of its first recor ...
male R&B singing group
The Rude Boys The Rude Boys is a 1990s R&B/vocal group from Cleveland, Ohio, known for their 1991 hit single " Written All Over Your Face". The group consisted of Larry Marcus, Melvin Sephus, and brothers Edward Lee "Buddy" Banks and Joe Little III. In 2 ...
, protégés of
Gerald Levert Gerald Edward Levert (July 13, 1966 – November 10, 2006) was an Americans, American singer-songwriter and Music Producer, producer. Levert performed with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon with the R&B vocal group, LeVert. Le ...
. He was soon promoted to musical director and toured with them through the early 1990s. While touring, McComb met Jeff Townes of seminal rap duo
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince were an American hip hop duo from West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, consisting of the rapper and actor Will Smith (the Fresh Prince) and the turntablist Jeff Townes (DJ Jazzy Jeff). Active from 1986 to 1994 an ...
who invited him to record and tour with the group. Townes eventually convinced Frank to move to
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
. Once settled, he was introduced to legendary songwriting duo
Kenny Gamble Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production duo credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as P ...
and
Leon Huff Kenneth Gamble (born August 11, 1943, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and Leon A. Huff (born April 8, 1942, Camden, New Jersey) are an American songwriting and production duo credited for developing the Philadelphia soul music genre (also known as P ...
. McComb was eventually put on payroll as a musician for Gamble/Huff and moved down the street from their headquarters so that he could walk to work every day.


Signing with Motown

While working for Gamble & Huff, a chance encounter with future president of
Motown Records Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...
Steve McKeever led to McComb's first record deal. At the time, McKeever was scouting for a new jazz-oriented Motown imprint called MoJazz. The contract was signed on the strength of one live performance and an admittedly poor recording of a song called "Time and Time Again." Subsequently, McComb shifted his home to Los Angeles to accommodate his new label. However, after recording two albums of unreleased material, and recording two songs for the soundtrack to the 1993 film The Meteor Man, he sought a release from his contract. "It was nothing personal...just politics and money which caused me to get lost in the shuffle," Frank states.


Signing with Columbia

Following the defunct contract with MoJazz, McComb toured as a musician for
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and Phillip Bailey, until getting word that
Branford Marsalis Branford Marsalis (born August 26, 1960) is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ens ...
was looking for a male vocalist for a new band he was beginning. A song called "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" secured him the gig, making him an official member of Buckshot LeFonque. McComb later discovered that it was Steve McKeever who recommended him for the project. While with Buckshot LeFonque, McComb recorded and toured worldwide in support of two critically acclaimed albums: 1994's debut '' Buckshot LeFonque'' and the 1997 follow-up ''Music Evolution''. This momentum led to a solo recording contract with Columbia Records. In summer of 1999, he began recording what would become his debut album ''Love Stories'', released on March 14, 2000. The 14-track set produced by both McComb and Branford Marsalis was entirely self-penned with the exception of the bookending covers of the gospel staple " His Eye Is On The Sparrow," and the jazz standard "Some Other Time." Though the album was a solid effort and remains a fan favorite, its sales suffered from lack of support and record company politics. Eventually, McComb asked to be released from his contract.


Going independent

Once free, McComb, wary of his past experience with major record companies, signed next to the independent label Malibu Sessions in 2002. McComb states, "I felt that maybe I needed to be with an independent company, a smaller company that would be able to give more time and dedication to their artists." 2003 saw the release of Frank's first independent set, ''The Truth''. The set was produced by Steve Harvey, producer of
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's widely lauded ''The Colored Section''. ''The Truth'' also featured contributions from
Billy Preston William Everett Preston (September 2, 1946 – June 6, 2006) was an American keyboardist, singer, and songwriter whose work encompassed R&B, rock, soul, funk, and gospel. Preston was a top session keyboardist in the 1960s, backing Little Richa ...
,
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, and percussion master
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. Though the album was desperately sought after in America, it was only licensed for release through
Expansion Records Expansion Records is a British record label founded by Northern Soul DJ Richard Searling and Soul Bowl owner John Anderson. In 1989, DJ, author, and journalist Ralph Tee joined the label, and both he and Searling have been running Expansion ...
in England and
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in Japan. The set was eventually made available stateside through iTunes in 2004. For his next release, McComb took the reins to deliver ''Straight From The Vault'' in 2005. The 12-track collection of both vocal and instrumental compositions was entirely self-written and self-produced. Moreover, the album was released through his own label Boobescoot Music, putting McComb in complete control of his recordings for the first time in his career. The move paid off, as the set won the SoulTracks Readers Choice Awards for Best Album (2005) Frustrated by fan reports that his early work at MoJazz was being sold for exorbitant amounts on the black market, McComb took steps to release the recordings himself. In 2006, Malibu/
Expansion Records Expansion Records is a British record label founded by Northern Soul DJ Richard Searling and Soul Bowl owner John Anderson. In 1989, DJ, author, and journalist Ralph Tee joined the label, and both he and Searling have been running Expansion ...
Sessions released what would have been McComb's MoJazz debut as ''The Truth, Volume 2''. This set has also circulated in multiple markets under the title ''The 1995 Bootleg'', as well as ''The Motown Sessions''. His first entirely solo foray into instrumental music was his next release, ''A Tribute To The Masters''. Each song is a tribute to such jazz luminaries as
Chick Corea Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea (June 12, 1941 – February 9, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, composer, bandleader and occasional percussionist. His compositions "Spain (instrumental), Spain", "500 Miles High", "La Fiesta", "Armando's Rhumba" ...
,
Patrice Rushen Patrice Louise Rushen (born September 30, 1954) is an American jazz pianist, R&B singer, record producer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and music director. At the 25th Annual Grammy Awards, her 1982 single, "Forget Me Nots", received a no ...
,
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Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. Hancock soon joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he helped to redefine the role of ...
,
George Duke George Martin Duke (January 12, 1946 – August 5, 2013) was an American keyboardist, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He worked with numerous artists as arranger, music director, writer and co-writer, record producer and as ...
,
Russell Ferrante Yellowjackets is an American jazz fusion band founded in 1977 in Los Angeles, California. History In 1977, guitarist Robben Ford, for his first solo album, recruited keyboardist Russell Ferrante, electric bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer ...
and
Joe Sample Joseph Leslie Sample (February 1, 1939 – September 12, 2014) was an American jazz keyboardist and composer. He was one of the founding members of The Jazz Crusaders in 1960, whose name was shortened to "The Crusaders" in 1971. He remained a p ...
. In 2007, Frank McComb released the concert recording ''Live In Atlanta'' in both CD and DVD formats. Though all of McComb's previous recordings were available on iTunes at the time of this album's release, the ''Live in Atlanta'' collection remains available only through his official website.


Discography

* ''Love Stories'' (Columbia, 2000) * ''The Truth'' (Malibu Sessions/Expansion, 2003) * ''Straight from the Vault'' (Boobeescoot Music, 2005) * ''The 1995 Bootleg'' (Boobeescoot, 2006) * ''Tribute to the Masters'' (Boobeescoot, 2006) * ''Live in Atlanta'' (Boobeescoot/Platinum, 2007) * ''A New Beginning'' (Boobeescoot/Platinum, 2010)


References


External links


Official website


* * {{DEFAULTSORT:McComb, Frank Living people 1970 births 20th-century African-American male singers 20th-century American male singers 20th-century American singers 21st-century African-American male singers 21st-century American male singers African-American male singer-songwriters American contemporary R&B singers American jazz singers Buckshot LeFonque members Columbia Records artists Musicians from Cleveland Singer-songwriters from Ohio