Tenor Frank Parker

[Lee Munsick]

Information only recently surfaced that Frank Parker passed away on January 10, 1999 in Titusville, Florida. He was born in April 1903, so this would have made him nearly 96 at his passing. The death information appears on the Social Security Death List. So far, I have been unable to get confirmation anywhere else.

Frank was thought by many to be Irish, as his was the voice of an Irish Tenor, and he sang a lot of Irish songs. He was actually Italian, his real last name being Ciccio (perhaps another spelling). Unless he legally changed his name to Frank Parker at some point in his life, it seems questionable that he would appear on the Social Security rolls by his professional name.

If anyone can give me any additional information, I will be most appreciative.

Frank Parker was an early fixture in radio, having moved there from several successful outings on the Broadway stage starting in 1922. He was with the A&P Gypsies, The Everready Hour, and Hollywood Hotel. Later he appeared with Burns and Allen, and Eddie Cantor. He made many popular phonograph recordings for various labels.

Parker was the "boy singer" on the Jack Benny Programs in the early 1930s, before Dennis Day. He appeared in the 1934 Jack Benny film "Transatlantic Merry-Go-Round". Coincidentally, Parker played the role of "Danny O'Day" in the 1935 film "Sweet Surrender", one of his several movies.

In the 1950s, Parker came out of retirement to become a regular for seven years on the Arthur Godfrey radio and TV programs. He and soprano Marion Marlowe revived many of the songs by many identified with Nelson Eddyand Jeanette MacDonald. The duo hit big with these romantic duets, with Miss Marlowe looking somewhat older than she was, and Parker younger than his true age. He was old enough to be her father, but the combination worked very well.

Any information confirming or denying the death of Frank Parker including obituaries, news stories and the like will be most appreciated.

Many thanks. Lee Munsick

[MikeFromRochester]

An obituary in the Orlando Sentinel stated retired tenor, Frank Parker, died on 1/10/1999. He had been living with his sister, Jean Bamberger of Titusville, and according to her nephew, Frank Frulio, he had been in good health and passed away in his sleep. The obit did not confirm that his original name was Ciccio but stated he was born 1n 1903 in New York City and made reference to his show business career.

[WaltP]

IMDB has him listed twice:
http://imdb.com/name/nm0662244/
http://imdb.com/name/nm1765828/

No real additional information, though

[MikeFromRochester]

The duplicate IMDB listings have now been combined as "Frank Parker II". He has been confused with Frank (Russell) Parker who was born in 1939 and also has movie and TV credits. Frank Parker, the tenor on The Arthur Godfrey Show, was born 4/29/1903 as confirmed by his listing in the Social Security Death Index.

I will continue to post if I turn up any additional items of interest regarding Frank and hope all who are interested will do likewise.