Frankie Carle

Frankie Carle had one of the longest careers in big-band music, from the '30s right up through the '80s, more than a half-century of making music, and even more amazing a record given his current lack of representation in the CD bins. Carle began his career as a pianist, taught by his uncle Nicholas Colangelo. At age 13, he landed a gig in his uncle's orchestra, playing for $1 a week; by 1920, he was already leading his own short-lived group. He participated in his first recording sessions -- at Victor -- in 1925 as a member of Edwin J. McEnelley's band, which he joined in 192...