Frank Guida
Encyclopedia
Frank Guida was a Sicilian-American
songwriter
and music producer credited with discovering Gary U.S. Bonds
, whose hits, including "New Orleans" and "Quarter to Three
", he produced. He was also a songwriter for Leroy Toombs. Other performers discovered by Guida include Jimmy Soul
, Tommy Facenda
(who gave Guida his first hit with "High School U.S.A."), Lenis Guess and Pamala Stanley
. The distinct sound he helped to create has been credited as influencing such major songwriters and producers as Bruce Springsteen
and Phil Spector
. Together with musicians like the tenor saxman Gene "Daddy G" Barge
, he helped establish what became known as "the Norfolk sound". His songs have been used in such films as Mask
, Mermaids
and Jaded.
, he came to New York
with his family as a child. While stationed in Trinidad
during the Second World War, he fell under the influence of calypso
. He relocated to Norfolk, Virginia
, where he opened a record store in 1953. That store, Frankie's Got It, was located on Granby Street but has closed. Its motto was Shakespeare's "If music be the food of love, play on!", which later became a song on a Bonds B-side.
Apart from his hits with Bonds, his most famous song is "If You Wanna Be Happy
", recorded by Jimmy Soul
. His 'live' 'party-in-the-studio' sound is thought to have influenced Phil Spector
.
He owned a number of record labels, including LeMonde (distributed by Atlantic), then Legrand (distributed by Rust/Laurie) and finally SPQR (distributed by London).
Guida died in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and music producer credited with discovering Gary U.S. Bonds
Gary U.S. Bonds
Gary U.S. Bonds is an American rhythm and blues and rock and roll singer. He is also a prolific songwriter.-Career:...
, whose hits, including "New Orleans" and "Quarter to Three
Quarter to Three
"Quarter to Three" is a popular song, adapted and expanded from "A Night with Daddy 'G' - Part 1" , an instrumental by the Church Street Five, which was written by Gene Barge, Frank Guida and Joseph Royster, and sung by Gary U.S. Bonds...
", he produced. He was also a songwriter for Leroy Toombs. Other performers discovered by Guida include Jimmy Soul
Jimmy Soul
Jimmy Soul was an American vocalist. He is best remembered for his 1963 million selling recording, "If You Wanna Be Happy."...
, Tommy Facenda
Tommy Facenda
Tommy "Bubba" Facenda is an American rock and roll singer and guitarist. He is best known for his one-hit wonder single, "High School U.S.A."-Career:...
(who gave Guida his first hit with "High School U.S.A."), Lenis Guess and Pamala Stanley
Pamala Stanley
Pamala Stanley is a Disco, Hi-NRG, Club/Dance and Dance-pop singer from Norfolk, Virginia, United States. She scored many dance chart and dance radio hits from the late 1970s to the late 1980s...
. The distinct sound he helped to create has been credited as influencing such major songwriters and producers as Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
and Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
. Together with musicians like the tenor saxman Gene "Daddy G" Barge
Gene Barge
Gene Barge, a founding member of the 1960s band The Church Street Five, was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1926, is an accomplished tenor and alto saxophonist and composer in several bands....
, he helped establish what became known as "the Norfolk sound". His songs have been used in such films as Mask
Mask (film)
Mask is a 1985 American biographical drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Cher, Sam Elliott, and Eric Stoltz. Dennis Burkley and Laura Dern are featured in supporting roles. Cher received the 1985 Cannes Film Festival award for Best Actress....
, Mermaids
Mermaids (film)
Mermaids is a 1990 comedy-drama film directed by Richard Benjamin and starring Cher, Bob Hoskins, Winona Ryder , and Christina Ricci in her first film role...
and Jaded.
Biography
Born at PalermoPalermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, he came to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
with his family as a child. While stationed in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
during the Second World War, he fell under the influence of calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
. He relocated to Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, where he opened a record store in 1953. That store, Frankie's Got It, was located on Granby Street but has closed. Its motto was Shakespeare's "If music be the food of love, play on!", which later became a song on a Bonds B-side.
Apart from his hits with Bonds, his most famous song is "If You Wanna Be Happy
If You Wanna Be Happy
"If You Wanna Be Happy" is a song recorded by Jimmy Soul, written by Frank Guida. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 18, 1963, as well as the R&B singles chart. The song is based on the calypso "Ugly Woman" by Roaring Lion. It was issued on Guida's S.P.Q.R. label and distributed by...
", recorded by Jimmy Soul
Jimmy Soul
Jimmy Soul was an American vocalist. He is best remembered for his 1963 million selling recording, "If You Wanna Be Happy."...
. His 'live' 'party-in-the-studio' sound is thought to have influenced Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
.
He owned a number of record labels, including LeMonde (distributed by Atlantic), then Legrand (distributed by Rust/Laurie) and finally SPQR (distributed by London).
Guida died in Norfolk, Virginia, in 2007.