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Biography
Frank Carillo is the epitome of the “musician's musician.” Throughout his career, his craftsmanship as a gifted world-class guitar player, electrifying stage performances, memorable prolific songwriting and his warm and affable persona have allowed him to make an indelible mark on the international music scene.
In 1972 and 1973 respectively, Frank traveled to England to add his distinctive guitar sound and style to Peter Frampton’s Wind of Change and Frampton's Camel albums for A&M Records.
In 1973, he formed Doc Holiday which recorded its first album at Olympic Studios in England for Metromedia Records. The album was produced by Chris Kimsey, who had just finished recording the Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers album at Olympic. Kimsey obtained permission for the band to use the Stones’ equipment to record their album. As if using the Stones’ equipment wasn’t enough, the members of Led Zeppelin, who were mixing their Houses of the Holy album in the adjoining studio, became fast friends, which culminated one night in an unforgettable Led Zeppelin - Doc Holiday jam session at Olympic.
Arriving back in England in 1974, he recorded French superstar Johnny Hallyday’s album “Insolitudes.” Frank penned the title track “La Solitude” which was a multi- platinum smash hit throughout Europe.
In 1978, Carillo released his first album for Atlantic Records, Rings Around the Moon, which was recorded at Long View Farm near Worchester, Massachusetts and included backing vocals by Yvonne Elliman, who had a tremendous hit with her performance on the Jesus Christ Superstar album singing “I Don't Know How To Love Him” and as a member of Eric Clapton’s band singing backing vocals on the hit, “I Shot the Sheriff.” Just prior to the release of Rings Around the Moon, Led Zeppelin had requested that Carillo be their opening act for a forthcoming North American tour, the first time Led Zeppelin used an opening act for a North American stadium-size tour. The tour was cancelled when, tragically, Robert Plant’s son died.
Carillo toured extensively throughout 1978 and 1979, playing with such acts as the J. Geils Band, Cheap Trick, Van Halen and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. During a break in touring late in 1978, Frank found time to collaborate with Carly Simon, co-writing the song, “Pure Sin.” Frank played guitar on the track, which was produced by world-renowned producer Arif Mardin for Carly’s Spy album. The second Carillo album, Street of Dreams, was released on Atlantic in 1979 and also had another luminary doing backing vocals: Michael Bolton. After the release of this album, Frank embarked on a 64-show U.S.A. tour opening for Bad Company. Playing to sold-out audiences in major areas across America, Carillo stunned the critics and fans with electrifying shows that received rave reviews throughout the United States, with standing ovations and encores occurring at every show. The tour culminated in San Antonio, Texas, when after Bad Company’s show, Carillo and Bad Company came out on stage and jammed, rocking the roof off the building! In 1986, Frank began writing and producing sessions with famed British model, actress, and singer Twiggy while she was in New York performing in a Broadway play. These sessions once again brought Frank and Carly Simon together, performing backing vocals on the Twiggy recordings.
Ricky Byrd, guitar player and songwriter for Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, collaborated with Frank in 1988 to write “Play That Song Again,” which appeared on Up Your Alley, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts’ multi-platinum album. Two years later, Frank joined up with singer Annie Golden, creating the duo of Golden Carillo, and recording two albums, Fire In New Town and Toxic Emotion, for Silenz Records, which met with great acclaim and success in Europe. Golden Carillo embarked on a number of extensive tours overseas, playing to sell-out crowds in Holland, Belgium and Germany. While performing in Europe, Frank appeared on countless radio and TV shows and created a loyal and strong fan base. Between European tours Frank worked with Atlantic recording artist and former Zebra band member Randy Jackson on Jackson’s solo album, produced by John Sonneveld.
Returning to Europe to record the Toxic Emotion album for Silenz Records, Frank utilized a studio in Belgium owned by Golden Earring guitarist George Kooymans, and they became good friends. He was reunited with producer John Sonneveld, and Frank, George and John produced the Toxic Emotion album, which had a great deal of success in Europe.
In 1992, Frank, along with Annie Golden, made his first major film appearance as a musician in Prelude to a Kiss, which starred Meg Ryan and Alec Baldwin. Frank and Annie also co-wrote and performed the song, “Waiting For Someone,” on the film’s soundtrack.
In 1995, George Kooymans introduced Frank to Dutch vocal sensation Anouk and Frank wrote two songs, “Pictures On Your Skin” and “Time Is a Jailer,” on her platinum debut album.
When Golden Earring journeyed to upstate New York in 2003 to record their most recent album, Millbrook, U.S.A., Frank co-authored seven songs on the CD along with Golden Earring members George Kooymans and Barry Hay. He also contributed backing vocals, slide guitar and laud.
Frank toured North America and Europe as a member of legendary bluesman John Hammond’s band. Playing with some of the greatest blues musicians in the world was a tremendously artistic experience for Frank. He played guitar .. for Love, one of John Hammond’s albums recorded during that time, which was produced by David Hidalgo of Los Lobos.
In 2004, Frank formed a new band called Frank Carillo & The Bandoleros, featuring Norman DelTufo on percussion/backing vocals, Eddie Seville on drums/backing vocals, Karl Allweier on upright bass/backing vocals and Frank’s brother Andrew Carillo on guitar. In 2005 with the formation of the band, Frank also reunited with his former manager, Phil Lorito. The band’s debut CD, Bad Out There, was released on Jezebel Records, Inc. in 2005 both in the U.S. and in numerous European countries.
Embarking on its first headline tour of Holland and Germany in January, 2006, the band played night clubs that were sold out or nearly sold out, receiving a minimum of two and sometimes three encores each night. This tour established the band’s base as one of the most impressive new American groups in Europe.
In the United States, Bad Out There received rave reviews and was selected in many journals as one of the year’s best. Songs from the CD were added to Play Network, which streamed tracks to over 15,000 retail outlets throughout North America, including Starbucks, TGIF, Krispy Kreme, Hooters and Eddie Bauer. In addition, DMX In-flight played tracks from the CD on all major airlines worldwide, with American Airlines featuring Frank Carillo and the Bandoleros on one of its channels.
The CD enjoyed Top 10 airplay on XM Satellite Radio, which also aired a live recording of Frank Carillo and the Bandoleros in the summer of 2006. Songs from the CD were eventually played on over 180 Triple A, Americana and Roots radio stations in the United States, with different stations playing all 14 tracks from the CD at one time or another.
Bad Out There did very well on the AMA charts and achieved 1 on both the Roots Top 100 and the Roots Rock Top 40, including a run on the Roots Rock Top 40 chart for over 42 weeks. The CD was “Featured CD Review” on the Roots Music Report where it was given the highest rating - five stars.
In a display of the album’s versatile appeal, the band’s single, “Red Queen,” was shipped to country radio in the U.S., where it was warmly received, and was also included on the CDX Country Radio release.
The single “Red Queen” was also released to radio in Germany and every radio station in Germany that plays American artists - over 74 radio stations added the song.
In the fall of 2007 Frank Carillo and the Bandoleros entered Millbrook Studios in upstate New York and teamed up again with producer/engineer Paul Orofino, who also produced Bad Out There. At Blue Cat Studios in San Antonio, Texas, legendary keyboard player Augie Meyers (Bob Dylan, Sir Douglas Quintet, John Hammond, Texas Tornados) added his distinctive keyboard talents to four songs. The result is the remarkable new CD, Someday. This album demonstrates Frank Carillo’s knack for combining potent songs and stirring performances, resulting in a disc that radiates with the values of traditional heartland, blues and blue collar roots-rock.
With the March 2008 release of Someday in Europe, the CD was greeted by a wave of fantastic international critical acclaim in the UK, Germany and Holland. It received a four-star review in Holland’s most prestigious music journal “Revolver.” This was soon followed by an outburst of European radio airplay that put the CD in the Top Five of both the Euro-Americana Chart and the Dutch Americana Roots Chart. With 19 Dutch radio stations giving heavy airplay to tracks and with over 28 radio stations in Germany airing the single Roll The Bones, Frank Carillo and the Bandoleros continue to increase their European fan base.
In the United States Someday was very well received by music critics throughout America. Frank Carillo and his guitar prowess was the subject of a feature article in “20th Century Guitar Magazine.” With over 200 AAA, Americana and Roots radio stations playing tracks from the Someday CD, Frank Carillo and the Bandoleros soared into the Top 50 of the Americana Music Association’s chart, hit 2 on the Roots Rock Chart and was a Most Added on the R&R Americana Chart.
The year 2008 was a remarkable one for Frank Carillo as he was selected by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame as a recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award for adding to the rich musical history and culture that is uniquely Long Island’s. The honors continued when Frank Carillo and the Bandoleros were selected as nominees for the 2008 Roots Rock Artist of the Year award by the Roots Music Association of America. In addition, the band was selected by the Hollywood Music Awards as the 2008 Blues Artist of the Year.
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