Nola Blue Records announces Frank Bey compilation album

LANCASTER, Pa. - Dec. 31, 2024 - PRLog -- Nola Blue Records proudly announces the January 17, 2025 release of Peace, an 11-track compilation of the late Frank Bey's music. The album opens with "That's What Love Will Make You Do," an uptempo tune by Little Milton that Bey recorded with The Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra at Greaseland (San Jose, CA) in 2015, released here for the first time, and closes with "Imagine," Bey's well-loved rendition of John Lennon's infamous anthem for peace. Eight additional tracks represent Frank's recorded work with his bandleader and friend of more than 25 years, Jeff Monjack, and the late Kevin Frieson, of West Virginia. Rounding out the collection is "One Thing Every Day," from Bey's final, GRAMMY-nominated album, All My Dues Are Paid.

Born and raised in Millen, Georgia, GRAMMY and seven-time Blues Music Award nominee Frank Bey began his singing career performing gospel at age four along with his brother and two cousins. Their group "The Rising Sons" toured around The South. At age 17, Bey joined the Otis Redding Revue, working as the opening act for several years, and learning how to captivate an audience with a song. In the early 1970s, he formed a tight-knit radical funk group, The Moorish Vanguard. Tragically, in a record deal gone wrong with James Brown, it all fell apart and Bey was abandoned by his closest friends. Devastated, Bey quit singing for 17 years and moved to Philadelphia where he later owned a club called Smith's. It is there that Jeff Monjack was hired to play with his jazz fusion group and was ultimately recommended when Bey decided to return to performing and put a new band together.

Monjack reflects, "For over 25 years show after show, going on stage with Frank Bey was a joy. Frank's connection to whatever that spiritual part of music is, was strong. His singing came straight from the depths of his ancestors and connected to the deepest part of everyone's soul who was there. There were no wrong notes - it was beyond that. Pure music. I was lucky to have had the opportunity to lead his band. We had a blast on every performance. No matter what his body was going through, when the downbeat hit, it was game on - back to that special place where we always wanted to be."

"Peace was Frank's vision. Peace was Frank's mission. Peace is his legacy," says Sallie Bengtson, Nola Blue Records president.  "And now, Peace, the Frank Bey compilation album, will be released on his birthday, January 17, 2025; an enduring tribute to The Southern Gentleman of the Blues. A portion of album proceeds will benefit his widow, Toni Bey."

A limited edition CD will be available exclusively via Bandcamp while supplies last. Preorders begin January 3, 2025 at https://lnk.to/FrankBeyPeace.  The digital album will be available worldwide on January 17, 2025.

For more information about Peace, and the inspiration for the project, visit www.nola-blue.com/frankbey.