Frank Hosford Records CD in Honor of George Fritton
from the Albion News, 12-11-02
by Twylla Crosby, Copyright Twylla Crosby 2002
His son, Paul's, creation of a compact disc recording company has allowed Frank Hosford, life-long Albion resident and farmer and musician, to honor the memory of one of his friends, George Fritton, with music.
The CD features jazz and one blues track of the music loved by both men. 'Take the A Train,' featured on the disc, was the theme song of the local Swing Kings band George was associated with for many years, Hosford said.
''George was like the brother I never had,'' Hosford, the only child of the late Etta and Russell Hosford, said.
Both men grew up listening to the music of the big band era. Hosford played with a Navy band in many Officers' clubs during his stint in the military service. It was mostly swing music then, he said.
During his military days, he first met his wife, Mary, while he was in Chicago. When the war was over Hosford came back to Albion to farm and became better acquainted with Mary when she was in Albion visiting her grandmother. They married and have two sons, Paul, Albion, and Gregg, Irving, TX, two grandsons and a granddaughter.
Be-bop music became popular, but not with Frank. He played jazz and blues in jam sessions with Fritton and other musician friends.
In later years Paul, and Grand Island music teacher, Rich Hughes, joined the Hosford-Fritton jam sessions.
Music almost didn't happen in Frank's life.
He recalls getting to his first piano music lesson with Ora Hutchinson as a test of wills--his against his parents. ''I kicked and screamed and fought and bit and broke dishes,'' he said. ''Being a small boy, I was overpowered and dragged down there.''
His test of wills with Ora lasted ten years. ''She hated jazz and I hated the music she made me play,'' Frank said, still unrepentant. He stopped the lessons at age 16 but has never stopped playing the jazz and blues he loves.
''I got interested in all such foolishness when I was a freshman in high school,'' Frank said. At the time, George Fritton was a lofty senior in Albion High School.
Fritton was a regular member of the Swing Kings which played dances all around the area. Frank filled in for their piano player, Charlie White, a couple of times.
''Gene Pieper, who was running the band at the time, called me when White was unable to play,'' Frank recalled. Hosford was a senior then and, ''I told him I had a big history test the next day but Pieper said, 'You could come if you wanted to.' I went and filled in until Charley showed up. I flunked the big history test the next day. I haven't forgiven Gene Pieper for that yet.''
Paul, who operates Painted Heart Music, LLC., met Rich Hughes several years ago. Hughes joined them in the recording studio on the 'Blues for George' album.
Frank played guitar for many years but said he never 'got any better' at it and swears he isn't as proficient as Paul and Rich are. ''They played and got better, I didn't,'' he said.
Frank wrote songs for a couple of years but now says he suffers from, ''permanent writer's block'' in his songwriting.
His mother, Etta, played piano for the silent movies but often became so involved with the movie, she would forget to play, Frank recalls. His father, Russell, ''sang a lot,'' and played ukulele. He had a six-stringed guitar that he finally took two strings off so he could play it like the ukulele.
''Blues are just a part of jazz, jazz is improvised music,'' Frank explained. ''You take the tune you have in your mind (and) take the cords--forget all about the melody sometimes--and you just improvise on the cords.''
George Fritton loved music. ''No one who knew George will ever forget him. And to those who didn't have that privilege, let me just say that this music is as much a reflection of George's joie de vivre as it is our own,'' Paul wrote on the jacket of the CD.
George was 74 when he died December 26, 1998.
Frank's vibraphone and piano playing on the CD comes through with the thread of passion and craftsmanship, just as Paul tells on the album cover.
''I truly believe he could have made it big in music,'' Paul said.
Frank Hosford has made a big tribute to an old friend with his CD 'Blues For George.'
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