Heart & Soul: An Interview with the Frank Harrison Group

I think every kid growing up in the 60’s and 70’s had their share of guitar heroes. Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and one of my favorites Johnny Winter were just a few I grew up jamming too. So when I saw Johnny was coming to the Newport in Columbus I was pumped. So I contacted Winter’s team to make arraignments to photograph the show and I figured I would see who else was on the bill. Opening for Johnny Winter is the Frank Harrison Group from Columbus. I was surprised I had never heard about the band since they were based right up I-70. So I found the bands Website and was immediately drawn to the many acts the Frank Harrison Group has opened for over the years. The list reads like a list of future Rock & Roll Hall of Famers; Robin Trower, Peter Frampton, Robert Cray, and of course Johnny Winter to name a few. That’s a pretty impressive resume by anyone’s standards.

So I decided that since I was already shooting the Johnny Winter show I would try and contact the band to see if I could photograph them as well; I also asked about the possibility of an interview prior to the show. As it turns out the manager and booking agent for the band is also the Bass player. Randy Adkins returned my e-mail and we made plans to do the interview over dinner. So Lisa and I made our way to The Golden Phoenix Restaurant, (a favorite of the guys) in Columbus. The interview turned out to be more like old friends getting reacquainted over dinner.

    

Frank - “Before Stevie came around nobody really care about the blues, Stevie made people care again.” Frank was very open and shared with us both the highs and lows of his life as a musician.

BMM - The event that changed his life forever was the passing of his beloved wife Joyce. You can tell by listening to him talk about her that they were best friends and her loss had a huge impact on his life and the way he views the world. In fact, the song Heart and Soul from the CD of the same name was written for Joyce.

Frank - “The funny thing about that song is that it began as an instrumental. I was entering a Jimi Hendrix competition and I had a live version of Red House that just killed, I said I’ll submit that. I wanted to submit another song, so instead of hitting them over the head with another song like Red House, I wanted to send something that was a little more delicate, sort of like a Little Wing. So that riff you hear I just came up with one day and my daughter said, ‘Dad, what’s that called?’ I said it’s called Heart and Soul. She said, ‘What are the lyrics?’ I said lyrics; we don’t need no stinking lyrics. Truth is I didn’t have any lyrics. And then Joyce passed away and I literally wrote the song in 20 minutes. It’s a really good song and I’m really proud of it. It makes me feel good; people will come up to me and say, ‘my brother just passed away and we played Heart and Soul at his funeral, I hope you don’t mind.’ Not at all, I’m honored. I hope it doesn’t become the Frank Harrison funeral theme song, but it does make me feel good.”

             

BMM - I remember seeing Buddy Guy in Dayton one year; it was an outdoor show and the place was packed. At one point Buddy step off the stage and proceeded to jam his way through the crowd. It was one of those moments that gave me cold chills. I asked Frank if he has ever witnessed a performance where he got emotional. Without hesitation he said…

Frank - “B.B. King, without question, he made me cry. I saw him on Valentine’s Day at the Newport and B.B. had two shows scheduled. A good friend of mine Terry Paul, he’s no longer with us, he died of cancer was the stage manager. But my wife and I came down for the show and it was packed, there were 1500 people there, you couldn’t move. We sat down and watched the first show and that was cool. Then Terry Asked us if we wanted to go backstage and meet B.B. and I said are you kidding me, of course! So he went back to see what was going on and in the mean time Willie Dixon had just died; B.B. took it really hard, so he really wasn’t in the mood to meet anybody. I said no problem I completely understand. So Terry goes, ‘what are you guys doing?’  I said well we are leaving. He said, ‘no don’t leave, stick around you’re my guest.’

We sat down right in the very front row right in front of the pit. So B.B. did half the show standing up and half way through they brought him a chair and he sat down; we were right in front of him. I don’t know it just took my breath away. It was one of those things where he just kind of closed his, he was playing the blues; he didn’t care if there was 1500 people there or 15. It was just him and his guitar you know, screw everyone else, and I can relate to that, I got that. So when he got done everyone gave him a standing ovation and I looked at Joyce and said, pay attention, you are watching the only guitar player to move me to tears.”

BMM - I then asked Frank what was his favorite venue to play.

Meet the Band

The Frank Harrison Group has been playing in-your-face blues since the band was established in 1994. The Frank Harrison Group is; Frank Harrison (Guitar, Vocals), Randy Adkins (Bass), and Keith Pickens (Drums). We got a chance to see the band in action a couple weeks ago at the Pit Stop in Columbus. We arrived a little early so we got a chance to chat with Randy and drummer Keith Pickens for a few minutes before the first set. Randy is an amazing Bass player and his resume includes stints with the Coasters, the Drifters, Classic IV, and Davy Jones (Monkees). Randy wears many different hats for the band; not only is he the Bass player for the band, he is also the booking agent, manager, and Webmaster for their Website. I’m not sure how he finds time, but Randy also is owner of Vintage Amp Repair and is the regions go-to man when it comes to amp repair for bands all over the country. Drummer Keith Pickens joined the band in September of 2010. Keith has also played with some very notable bands like; Hilljack, American Dog, Southern Rock All-Stars, and one of my favorite Ohio grown band the Godz.

 

     

Frank seemed to be all business as he prepared to open the show. When the guys took the stage it didn’t take long before I was thinking, “Wow, these guys are as good as advertised.” The band opened up with Wishing Well and preceded into classics like Red House, ZZ Top’s Waitin’ for the Bus/Jesus Just Left Chicago, Bridge of Sighs, and Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Pride and Joy. I know what you’re thinking, just another cover band right? Wrong! I’ve seen my share of cover bands and they kind of sound like the real thing. But if you go see the Frank Harrison Group live you get a classic rock show that is every bit as good as the original. The band also performed songs from their CD Heart & Soul including a song written in honor of Stevie Ray called The Blues is Everywhere and my favorite from the album Where’d You Get Those Blues. If you are skeptical or think I’m just kissing ass, just take a look at the bands video from the Newport. The band is performing the Jimi Hendrix tune Are you Experienced. If this doesn’t make you a believer all you have to do is come out to the Newport July 28 and Frank and the guys will do the rest.

I would like to thank the band for giving us an amazing show and thanks to Randy for setting up the interview and dinner as well. I should also thank the Golden Phoenix and our little waitress who had to put up with us for two and a half hours; she definitely earned her tip that night. And of course thanks to Frank for his openness and honesty. See you at the Newport!

Upcoming Events for the Frank Harrison Group   July 4 @ Slapsy Maxie's - Monday Blues Jam w/ guest Sam Hoff on Drums   July 15 @ Slapsy Maxie's   July 23 @ Copper Penny Tavern - Frank Duo w/ Terry Davidson     July 28 @ The Newport - The Frank Harrison Group & Johnny Winter   August 5 @ G.Worthy's Bar    August 6 @ Canal Winchester Blues Festival - Frank Solo   August 19 @ Slapsy Maxie's - The Frank Harrison Group w/ Rhino Bucket    September 9 @ Slapsy Maxie's   October 21 @  Slapsy Maxie's   November 11 @ Slapsy Maxie's   December 9 @ Slapsy Maxie's   December 17 @ Zuey's Roundback Bar   Click Here for More Information    The Frank Harrison Group   614-491-4965