Jazz Musician. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Charles and Charlotte McCorkell Teschemacher. His parents preferred him to study a more conventional instrument and compromised with him in selecting the violin when he was ten years old. He did well with this instrument and in the process became a very good sight reader. His preference was clearly for popular music, and shortly before entering Austin High School a friend introduced Frank to the alto saxophone. Soon he had purchased one of his own. His social life came to revolve around the musical interests he shared with a group of fellow students which included the brothers Jimmy and Dick McPartland, Jim Lanigan and Bud Freeman. Frank was strongly influenced by cornetist Bix Beiderbecke, he was mainly self-taught on his instruments; early on he also doubled on violin and banjo. He started playing the clarinet professionally in 1925. His intense solo work laid the groundwork for a rich sound and creative approach, that is credited with influencing a young Benny Goodman and a style of which Pee Wee Russell is perhaps the best-known representative. He also made recordings on the saxophone. Late in his career, he returned to playing violin with Jan Garber's sweet dance orchestra, trying to earn a living in the midst of the Great Depression. Although he was well known in the world of jazz, he did not live to enjoy popular success in the swing era. He was killed in an automobile accident in the morning hours of March 1, 1932, a passenger in a car driven by his performing associate Bill Davison. He was 25 years old.
Jazz Musician. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, to Charles and Charlotte McCorkell Teschemacher. His parents preferred him to study a more conventional instrument and compromised with him in selecting the violin when he was ten years old. He did well with this instrument and in the process became a very good sight reader. His preference was clearly for popular music, and shortly before entering Austin High School a friend introduced Frank to the alto saxophone. Soon he had purchased one of his own. His social life came to revolve around the musical interests he shared with a group of fellow students which included the brothers Jimmy and Dick McPartland, Jim Lanigan and Bud Freeman. Frank was strongly influenced by cornetist Bix Beiderbecke, he was mainly self-taught on his instruments; early on he also doubled on violin and banjo. He started playing the clarinet professionally in 1925. His intense solo work laid the groundwork for a rich sound and creative approach, that is credited with influencing a young Benny Goodman and a style of which Pee Wee Russell is perhaps the best-known representative. He also made recordings on the saxophone. Late in his career, he returned to playing violin with Jan Garber's sweet dance orchestra, trying to earn a living in the midst of the Great Depression. Although he was well known in the world of jazz, he did not live to enjoy popular success in the swing era. He was killed in an automobile accident in the morning hours of March 1, 1932, a passenger in a car driven by his performing associate Bill Davison. He was 25 years old.
Bio by: Shock
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