Frank De Vito

Frank De Vito was born in Utica, New York and started playing drums at 14. Before he was twenty he moved the Manhattan area and studied at the Brooklyn School of Music with the legendary Jim Chapin.

One of Frank's first gigs was to replace Shelly Manne in Bob Astor's band. After that he returned to Itica and played with legends such as J.R. Montrose, Sammy Mancusco, and Billie Holiday.

Then he got a call from the famous Buddy DeFranco and joined a new band DeFranco was forming in New York City. This was a "big band".

When he was not touring with DeFranco he was playing and recording with other jazz legends such as Oscar Pettiford, Lee Konitz, Kai Winding, J.J. Johnson, Stan Getz, Horace Silver, The Mills Brothers, Hal McIntyre, and others. He also played with Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.

In 1953, Frank joined the Terry Gibbs Quartet and went on the road for two years with them. The tour ended in L.A. in 1955, and Frank stayed there because of being tired from being on the road for two years.

Frank started working with Buddy DeFranco again and The Pete Jolly Trio. In 1957, he began a three-year stint touring and recording with Frank Sinatra. Other legends he played with during this time were Terry Gibbs, Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, Woody Herman and Ella Fitzgerald.

Earl Palmer recommended Frank to studios, and he became involved in studio session work. He recorded with many jazz musicians and pop artists such as Elvis Presley, Sonny & Cher, Sam Cooke, Dick Dale, Ricky Nelson, The Ventures, Ricky Nelson, The Monkees, Del Shannon, Sam Cooke, Doris Day, The Beach Boys and others.

He also recorded and toured with the Baja Marmimba Band. He is now listed among the ranks of legendary session drummers like Earl Palmer, Hal Blaine and John Guerin.

He is also in movies such as The Wild Party (1956), La Bamba (1987) and Man On The Moon (1999).

Frank is still playing today, focusing on jazz.

This is Frank playing "Satan Doll" with Buddy DeFranco from the album "Live Date". A very "laid-back" song. Buddy DeFranco (clarinet), Scott LaFaro (bass), Herbie Mann (Flute), Barney Kessel (guitar), Pete Jolly (piano), Victor Feldman (vibes). When I went to Berklee we called this song the "Berklee Theme Song" because everybody played it all the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vf_0XY-co2c