The Band
Frankie D and the Dreamers is a high energy, entertaining, good time 'rock and roll' band playing the best of the 50's and 60's music. We
love what we do and have fun doing it. This band will have you singing and dancing the minute they strike their first chord. So put on your
"High Heeled Sneakers" or your "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Let's Go to the Hop" and "We'll Have Fun, Fun, Fun, 'Til Your Daddy Takes Your T-Bird Away".
The main band members are Frank Coletta, drummer, backup singer and M.C. of the band; Dave Hiscox, lead guitar and lead vocals; Fred Parsons
on keyboard, bass and vocals; Phil Parsons on Sax and Vocals. From time to time we are joined by Brent Malseed on bass; Max Clark on keyboard and
sax; and Dave Brown, percussion.
This band is available for dances, house parties, high school reunions, fairs, street dances, parades, beach parties and of course "Sea Cruises".
Reasonable Rates. Call Frankie D at 519-534-0325 or email me at royalfrank@bmts.com
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Frankie D and the Dreamers
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Frankie D and the Dreamers
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Past Gigs and References
- Owen Sound Legion. New Year's Dance. Sold out 2006 and 2007. Quote "Finally a band we can dance to."
- International Ploughing Match, main stage, Listowel 2005. "Great job...you had them singing and dancing in the fields."
- Port Elgin Beach Party 2004, 2005, 2006. "The kids loved your hoola hoop and bubble gum blowing contests. You made the event fun and
entertaining."
- Owen Sound Street Dance and Classic Car Show 2006. "The band made the 50's and 60's come alive in downtown Owen Sound. Let's do it again."
- Wiarton Rotary Club. "Thanks for helping us raise over $30,000 for the new playground equipment at Peninsula Shores District School."
- Owen Sound Home Coming - August 2007, Great Owen Sound happening! Band had a fantastic performance and met a lot of fans both old and new.
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Band Members
Glory Days - 1969
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Frank Coletta - Drums
Hi! I'm Frankie D (Frank Coletta). I started playing drums at George Harvey High School in Toronto in the 60's. While I was there,
I formed a band called "The Act Five". We played in the Toronto area and the Yorkville scene. In the 70's I moved to London Ontario and
started another band called "BITTERSWEET". Throughout the 70's and 80's the band was busy and played all the local bars and fairs in the area.
I moved to Wiarton with my family in 1989 and soon met up with "Midnight Blue" and became their back up drummer for 5 years. I wanted to have
my own band so I formed "Bittersweet Blues Band" and played in local bars in the Owen Sound area. Summer Folk 23 was one of the band's best
performances. After 5 years I needed a change of directions and went back to the music I grew up with...the best of the 50's and 60's
Rock and Roll...and "Frankie D and the Dreamers" was formed.
When Frank is not being a rock star, he is very busy in the Wiarton community. As past president and member of the Wiarton Rotary Club, he is
working with the Peninsula Shores Performing Arts Centre to bring international performers to Wiarton.
Present day - Working as Royal LePage Real Estate agent in the Wiarton and Grey/Bruce area. Check out
www.frankcoletta.com
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Present Day
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1995 - 2001
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1970 - 1980
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Bittersweet 2009
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Dave Hiscox - Guitar
Although not raised in a musical family per say, Dave's parents appreciated good music, and he was encouraged to explore the wonders of the genre
through his early public school participation in various choirs and vocal groups. Early vocal training and experience came about as he entered
provincial music competitions in the categories of single vocals and mixed choir, achieving excellent marks.
1950 - As a self taught musician he was intrigued by the sounds of the guitar as an expressive instrument, and Dave would fill many hours locked
away, to study the instrument, and hone the required skills in notes, chords, and scales.
In the first year of high school, he was instrumental in forming a band for experience and exposure, playing many school dances and functions.
Introduction, at this time , to various styles of music ( rock, blues, country, jazz, and big band ), offered Dave, a chance to mature in the
world of music at the very tender age of 14. Because of his young age however, he was compelled to have his parents sign a "performance waiver",
to allow him to play music with mature musicians in licensed establishments. Legal age of majority was 19 at that time!
Dave continued his exposure to a professional music career by appearing with some of the well known and established bands in the area such as:
"Rock 'n' Tones", "Brian Pawley and his Rhythm Rockers", "Purple Country", "The Herbie Rutherford Orchestra", "The Earl Georgas Jazz Quintet",
"Robbie and the Royals", and guest spots with "Alf Fromanger and the Country King's" on CKVR-TV.
After entering the work force, Dave continued to play music on the weekends . At this time, (on a request from a traveling musician friend), Dave
was asked to substitute for an ailing guitarist (on a road tour), with options to stay with the tour full time, or return home if and when the
original guitarist returned. After a few weeks, and on reflection, Dave decided to give up the "lonely- life", and return home.
It must have been a good decision , as he continued to work at his day job, gig on the weekends, and subsequently met and married his wife,
Mary, (after meeting at a charity event Dave was appearing at). A son Nicholas, (1967), and two daughters, Teresa, (1969), and Angela, (1971),
soon followed.
Soon music and entertainment would call again , and together with some old friends, (who joined the firm where Dave worked), formed another band
called, "The Four Folk Plus One", would be the basis for his musical expression for the next 16 years.
After a short sabbatical, Dave accepted a call to join another group. Known as "Feelin' Good". Together with Robbie and Jenny Robinson, Dave,
would enjoy touring with this trio for the next few years. A studio recorded cassette, would be the culmination of this great experience.
Another contact, (from an old friend and keyboard musician, Max Clark), convinced Dave, to once again, "run the roads", with yet another nostalgic
group playing 50's and 60's music known as "Frankie D and the Dreamers". Still playing with this band at the present time, Dave is still
"gettin' it on", more than ever.
Today, Dave and Mary are still married, and have three, "entertaining" grandsons, Matthew, Curtis, and Dylan who someday, (for some
strange reason), might be attracted to the "magical world of music".
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Dave Hiscox
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Fred Parsons
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Fred Parsons
Born and raised in London, Ontario, Fred has been playing music since the age of five, studying piano and music theory with the Sisters at
Mount St. Joseph in London. He played trombone and tuba in high school at Sir Adam Beck Collegiate, playing in the Spartones Jazz Band and,
while there, keyboard in a top 40's band called the Nouvelles of London. He travelled extensively while in university with a pop-rock-jazz
group called The Exception ,playing bass, trombone and keyboard (to earn tuition money!), played Bass guitar with the Johnny Downs Orchestra
and trombone with Orchestra London under conductor Clifford Evans.
As a music teacher,Fred taught at Lorne Avenue Public School in London (where he was responsible for starting the music program), John Diefenbaker
Secondary in Hanover for 6 years, and West Hill Secondary in Owen Sound for 21 years. He has been active on the music scene in and around the area
for many years having performed with the top 40's band, again called The Exception, with brother Phil and drummer Gord Dandeno for 13 years,
Georgian Bay Symphony (trombone, french horn, trumpet and percussion), the Stardust Big Band, The Alpha Jazz Band with Earl Georgas, Frankie D
and the Dreamers, Quorom, and with his own duo, with David Brown on percussion.
And still going strong....long live Rock and Roll!!.
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Phil Parsons - Tenor Sax and Vocals
- Studied instrumental music as a student in London, Ontario schools
- father Howard Parsons as sax mentor
- member, along with brother Fred Parsons, of the popular "Novelles" in London during the 60's
- played baritine sax in the University of Western Ontario Concert Band
- occasional member of several Big Band organizations in London area through the 60's and early 70's and member of the Concert Under the
Stars orchestra
- a music educator in Ontario schools for more than 30 years
- member of "Exception" trio based in Owen Sound throughout the 70's and 80's - prersently a band director for the annual Kincardine Summer
Music Festival
- excited to be a member of Frankie "D" and the Dreamers bringing the best of 50's and 60's music to dances, parties, weddings and every
other imaginable occasion!
"Live Music is Best!"
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Phil Parsons
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Occasional Members (with a little help from our friends)
Max Clark - Keyboards
Max started taking piano lessons when he was 5 years old. In his early teens he moved onto Organ, Bass and Sax. He became a "Road Musician"
in the 60's playing the now famous B3 Organ. He returned to the Owen Sound area in the mid-seventies and has been seen playing many styles
of music with various bands since then. He is best known as the Piano Tuner Technician who brings "The Joy of Harmony" to the Grey-Bruce
Region and now plays the music he loves 50's and 60's Rock and Roll as a periodic guest instrumentalist with Frankie D and The Dreamers. |
Max Clark
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Brent Malseed
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Brent Malseed - Bass, Keyboards & Vocals
Brent was raised in a musical family and exposed to music from the time he was born. His father, Roy Malseed played piano and had his own
band in the Hamilton area for years. Jam sessions were common in the Malseed household when Brent was growing up. As a child, he studied
piano for many years through the Royal Conservatory of Music program. When he was 14 years old, his father bought him an electric bass and
arranged for lessons. Brent studied electric bass for six months with a fine bassist named Tom Campbell from the Hamilton area.
His first professional job on electric bass was with his fathers' band "The Hi-Lifers" in 1964 at 15 years old. His musical career exposed
him to many types of music and Brent has performed with many musicians over the years, playing jazz, rock, blues, country, and big band
music. Some of the groups he has worked with over the years include "The Kings", "The Trend", "The Jimmie Begg Orchestra", "Music Machine",
"The Earl Ray Orchestra", "The Wally Mack Band", "ESP" and "Matrix" to name a few.
In 1970, Mohawk College was starting a music program and Brent was asked to play bass in the first Mohawk College Jazz Symphonic Orchestra.
That same year, he worked as a session bass player for a 26 week variety television show called "Vince Hill at the Club" produced by CHCH-TV
in Hamilton. Vince Hill was a popular singer from England that CHCH brought over for this TV variety show.
In 1972 he went on tour with "The Diamonds" throughout the United States. This group is most famous for their song "Little Darlin'",
but had a variety of other hits.
Over the years Brent has worked with other name performers such as Tiny Tim, The Platters, Jerry Vale, and Peter Appleyard. In the 70's,
he recorded an album with "Freddie Purser and the Washingtons" featuring Sam Noto on trumpet.
For serveral years in the 80's, he played 6 nights a week with the Matt Kennedy Trio in the O'Sullivans Dinning Lounge at the Royal
Connaught Hotel in Hamilton.
In the 90's Brent took a leave from playing music for about 8 years and now that he is back playing, he is enjoying it more than ever.
After coming off the road in 1972, Brent got married to Janna Begg and in 1974 had a daughter, Eryn and in 1976 had a son, Adam. Today,
Brent and Janna are still married and have five wonderful grandchildren.
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Dave Brown
David Brown is a self-taught percussionist from Toronto. Throughout the late 50's and early 60's he played in various rock & roll bands for high
school dances. However it wasn't until the fall of 1962 that he started to take his music seriously and teamed up with Jay Smith and the Majestics.
After 4 years with the original Majestics, he played with Bobby Kris and the Imperials and Jon and Lee & the Checkmates. A few years later he decided
to go full time with the Bud Madden Agency doing the Ontario night club circuit. He played a 1&1/2 year stint with the Diamonds and later Tony
Kingston. After moving to Owen Sound and a lengthy sabbatical Dave was fortunate to play with some of the great musicians in the Grey/Bruce area.
He has found his niche with various musicians and groups and enjoys being back on the drums and an extended list of other percussion instruments.
Give him the tune and he can provide the framework of a fabulous rendition of the original!
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Dave Brown
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