The Dogs

Frank started out playing drums in the 3rd grade. He then moved to the tenor sax in the 5th grade and, finally, found a guitar at age 10 due to his neighborhood rival who could play a mean version of "Born on the Bayou". That first guitar, a Teisco del Rey with 4 pickups, was his pride and joy until his dad bought him a guitar for $550 bucks. Frank still uses that used '72 Les Paul Custom today. Frank spent the same years with Matt Snyder in the award winning Bonita Jazz Band learning those 10 dollar jazz guitar chords. Frank, however, was always more drawn to the blues and rock influences. Matt and Frank founded Thin Ice, a band which headlined many clubs throughout the Southland, including the gigs at the legendary Troubador & the Hollywood Bowl during the band's hayday. Thin Ice went through many incarnations throughout the years. They produced original music, some of which Frank wrote or collaborated on, and they opened for bands such as Seals & Croft, Savoy Brown, Johnny Hammond and others.

If you were married in the 80s in Southern California, or visited your local Elks Club for a function, there is a pretty good chance that Frank was in the band playing at it. Picture him in a tux and mustache and you just might recognize him. Frank calls these lost years his "casualty" years. (And you wonder why the Dogs don't take requests or play "Mustang Sally" and "Brown Eyed Girl"!) Now consider that Frank is still known to pop up at such obscure gigs as playing blues with Deacon Jones at the world famous Babes & Ricky's in LA, it makes you wonder where you might find him and one of his 9 guitars next. The logical answer according to Frank is at the next Dogs gig because, in Frank's experience, there is no better marriage than this blend of talented musicians.