Biography

Frank D'Rone is an American jazz singer and guitarist. He grew up in Providence, Rhode Island and began singing and playing the guitar professionally at age 5. At age 11, he had his own local radio show. At age 13, he won an Artist’s Degree in classical guitar from the American Guild of Stringed Instruments. At 18, D’Rone headed for New York and beyond, moving to Chicago in the late 1950s. D'Rone achieved success in Chicago clubs, attracting the attention of such jazz luminaries as Oscar Peterson, Stan Kenton and Nat King Cole. Dick LaPalm, a record promoter for Nat Cole, Peggy Lee, and many others got him his first record contract with Mercury records and introduced him to his great friend, Nat "King" Cole.