Frank Comstock | |
|---|---|
 Frank Comstock (2004) | |
| Background information | |
| Born | September 20, 1922 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Died | May 21, 2013 (aged 90) Huntington Beach, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Composer, arranger and conductor |
| Instrument | Trombone |
| Years active | 1939–2009 |
Frank G. Comstock (September 20, 1922 – May 21, 2013) was an American composer, arranger, conductor, and trombonist. For television, Comstock wrote and arranged music for major situation comedies and variety shows;[1] his theme and incidental music for Rocky and His Friends (1959–1964) are probably his best-remembered works. Additionally, his music for Adam-12 earned him a 1971 Emmy nomination.[2]
Comstock's recording credits include eight Hi-Lo's albums and backing arrangements for major recording stars.[3] His 1962 instrumental album, Project: Comstock - Music from Outer Space[4] became a classic and was released on CD in 2004. Recently, Comstock wrote new big-band arrangements for Brian Setzer's Wolfgang's Big Night Out (2007) and Songs from Lonely Avenue (2009) CDs.[5]
He started his arranging career in the dance bands of Sonny Dunham[6] and Benny Carter,[7] and with Les Brown from 1943 to 1955.[8] When dance bands fell out of favor after World War II, Comstock and Doris Day left the Les Brown band. Comstock's backing arrangements for Doris Day's Warner Brothers screen tests impressed studio executives and resulted in a staff arranger position at Warner where he demonstrated his ability to write for large studio orchestras.[8]
- ^ Internet Movie Database - Frank Comstock
- ^ 1971 Emmy Nominations
- ^ Partial Discography at allmusic.com
- ^ Project Comstock review
- ^ Brian Setzer CD review Archived 2011-09-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sonny Dunham biography Archived 2012-01-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Benny Carter Masterpieces CD Liner Notes
- ^ a b "Forrest Patten, Journal Into Melody, June 2002 pp. 17-18". Archived from the original on 2011-12-26. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
- ^ "Frank G. Comstock Obituary - Huntington Beach, California". Tributes.com. Retrieved 2013-06-11.
- ^ "Frank Comstock, Composer of "The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show" Theme, Passes Away at 90". Universal Music Publishing Group. Retrieved 2013-06-11.