Frank Carr - Drums/Manager
Music leads all of us down an interesting path in the journey of life. In 1961 I touched my first drum set in Prestwick Scotland and I fell in love with the instrument. In 1971 I graduated high school in Oxford Alabama. Music was great, I played in the marching band, school orchestra, played on TV for a local talent show, which I helped produce while in junior achievement and started playing the local bar scene. Being the drummer in the band is what I want to do with my life. After mixing it up in the local scene for a few years I had an offer to make my living as a full time professional road musician. So I hit the road in 1973. Now my profession is “I hit things in a rock and roll band” how much cooler can it get? 6 years later 1979 I found myself in Houston Texas with nothing to my name accept for a drum set, a weeks’ worth of stage clothes and dead broke and enough road stories to choke a horse (“remember the time we opened for Trower, man”) it’s scary because it’s true I did it, Charlestown West Virginia Civic Center 1975 . 6 years of traversing most of the eastern and central United States in two successful full time road bands. Pearl based in Atlanta Ga. and Dancing Machine based in Norfolk Va. What did I have to show for all that work? Too much information on every lounge, rock bar, night club and live music venue east of the Mississippi! But I also had an even greater love of the instrument and a deeper conviction to playing great music. I was absolutely hooked! Now I had become a journeyman musician trying to “stay busy” in the local scene.
Over 30 years have passed since that Hollow’s Eve in October of 1979 the infamous night I arrived in Houston. I found the true love of my life that night “Niki” at a friend’s Halloween party. Star crossed lovers that didn’t even have a clue that we would marry and continue the journey together. With my family’s support over the years I have managed a great local career supporting Houston talent. Bands like City Heat, 88 Degrees, JJ Cuzzi Band and Johnny B & the Bad Boys during the 1980’s. In the early 1990’s local blues legends Pearl Murray and Earl Gilliam, country entertainers Sugar Creek, Debbie Watson and the Hot Watts and local powerhouse R&B singer Sheila Renfro and Soul Possession.
1997 rolled around I meet a guitar player that would change my musical path in Houston “Almost Famous” Phil Sandling. Earl Gilliam would have a monthly barbeque and blues jam at his house in Tomball. “Almost Famous” Phil was hanging out eating barbeque and playing the blues. Phil liked my playing and wanted me to check out a band he was putting together with a singer named James Brown. That was the genesis of the band Fuzzy Side Up. James and I along with REB hit the stage in December of 1997 as Fuzzy Side Up and haven’t looked back since. 15 years of playing variety music with a distinct R&B / Rock & Roll style that reflects my over 40+ years of playing experience. Fuzzy Side Up is a great vehicle for my style of playing. Thanks to “Almost Famous” Phi I meet James.
