Frank Bennett (singer)

David Henry Wray (born 20 June 1959) is an Australian jazz singer, musician and songwriter who performs under the stage name Frank Bennett, a blend of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett. His vocal style is influenced by those two singers and the music of the 1940s and 1950s. He has provided alternative rock cover versions of rock and pop singles in big band arrangements: "Creep" (originally by Radiohead),'FRANK BENNETT AND THE ORCHESTRA ROYALE - CREEP'. Dutch Charts "Better Man" (Pearl Jam), "Under the Bridge" (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and "Opportunities" (originally by Pet Shop Boys).Frank Bennett. Rate Your MusicFRANK BENNETT AND THE ORCHESTRA ROYALE - CREEP (SONG). Australian Charts.Capitol Records (EMI Music Australia). 7243 4 98085 2 2. 1998. Cash Landing. (CD, Album) 'Opportunities'. (CD, Single). Virgin Records. 7243 8 86610 2 7. 1998. Bennett’s version of "Creep" was listed in the Triple J Hottest 100, 1996, and he has received nominations at the ARIA Music Awards.Graney, Dave. (12 June 2024). 'Players Please! Play Arn Dave Wray aka Frank Bennett aka'. Substack.Dave Graney and Clare More. (12 June 2024). 'Play Arn Dave Wray aka Frank Bennett'. Live interview (90 minutes). SoundCloud.

Early life Frank Bennett was born as David Wray in 1959 and grew up in the Sydney suburb of Birrong (from an Aboriginal word for star) where he attended Birrong Primary and Birrong Boys High School. Wray played drums in his early teens, and after leaving school in 1975, found work as a storeman and labourer.

Career David Wray started learning saxophone in 1977 and within a year began playing in various bands on the Sydney pub and club circuit from the late 1970s through to the early 1990s: the Layabouts, the Eddys, the Zarzoff Brothers, the Foreday Riders, the Allniters, Club Ska, Paris Green and Bellydance. He began singing professionally several years later as "Tony Sinatra".

In 1996, Wray was offered a recording contract with Polygram/Universal Music and, after changing his stage name to Frank Bennett, he recorded Five O'clock Shadow, an album of lounge music cover versions of contemporary popular songs."Five o'clock shadow (sound recording) / Frank Bennett.". Sydney: Mercury Records, 1996. Trove. Libraries Australia ID 13692355. National Library of Australia. Two years later, Bennett released a second album, Cash Landing, on the Capitol Records label, a subsidiary of EMI Music Australia with Derek Williams as co-producer, principal arranger and conductor.Cash landing / Frank Bennett. Australia: Capitol Records, EMI Music Australia, p1998.Trove. Libraries Australia ID 127421180. National Library of Australia.Frank Bennett - Cash Landing. Capitol Records #7243 4 98085 2 2: EMI Music Australia. Discogs.'Frank Bennett: "Material Girl"'. YouTube.'Frank Bennett "Opportunities"'. YouTube. The album used a similar big band lineup and rationale to that which had been used for "Creep",'Frank Bennett Creep Live 1998'. Dave Wray official channel: YouTube. and Williams added a full live string section to five of the CD's 13 numbers. With its themes of money and avarice, Cash Landing received a nomination at ARIA Music Awards of 1999 for Best Adult Contemporary Album.Holmes, Peter (3 October 1999). 'Vote Early, Vote Often'. p. 18. The Sun Herald (Sydney, Australia)

In 1998 Bennett opened for Tom Jones at Sydney's Star City and Burt Bacharach on Bacharach's Australian tour. He appears in the 2000 Australian film The Dish as Barry Steele, a singer who sounds "a little like Frank Sinatra". Bennett has performed on saxophone with Daddy Cool and Glenn Shorrock (ex-the Little River Band), and also played the saxophone solos on Cash Landing.

In 2002 Bennett was a member of Jim Conway's Big Wheel, led by harmonica player, Jim Conway. They released an album, Little Story (September 2003), which received an ARIA nomination for Best Blues and Roots Album in 2004. It was voted best Australian Blues release for 2003 by the readers of Rhythms Magazine.

Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions AUSAustralian (ARIA) chart peaks: Top 100 peaks to December 2010: "Creep": N.B. The HP column indicates the highest position reached. Five O'Clock Shadow Released: November 1996 Label: Mercury Records (534 343–2) Format: CD 65 Cash Landing Released: November 1998 Label: EMI Records (498085–2) Format: CD 78

Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumAUS "Creep"1996 74Five O'Clock Shadow "Better Man" — "Opportunities"1998 —Cash Landing "Beautiful People" — "What's New Pussycat" — To Hal and Bacharach

Awards and nominations ARIA Music Awards The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987.

References

External links Frank Bennett. Australian Network Entertainment.

Frank Bennett: 'Five O’Clock Shadow' playlist, GCB Music, YouTube.

Frank Bennett at Bandcamp

Frank Bennett (singer)

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