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Frank Bey: January 17, 1946 – June 7, 2020

Frank Bey (born Frank Bass) was an American blues singer. He
changed his last name from Bass to Bey at age 27 when he joined the
Moorish Science Temple of America.

From his work with the Otis Redding Soul Revue at age 17, to a

record deal gone bad with James Brown, to his multiple Blues Music
Award nominations, and much more, Frank Bey has had his share of
career highs and lows. The depth, warmth and character of his voice
effortlessly embody the very essence of soul singing.

Frank left home when he was 17 and moved to

Philadelphia, where he worked for two and a half years
as a driver for Gene Lawson, Otis Redding’s advance
publicity man. Redding sometimes rode in the back seat
on trips between engagements. On three of those
occasions, when the opening act was late showing up,

Bey says he was given the opportunity to open the
shows. By the early 1970s he joined the Moorish
Vanguard and relocated to Aiken, South Carolina. In
1976, Bey produced The Sunset of Your Love on the
Country Eastern Music label. James Brown then

published the song on Polydor Records without their permission. The group initially accused Bey
of giving the song to Brown but Brown later settled and admitted to taking the song. After this,
Bey left the music business for 17 years, and had his own businesses in the construction and
restaurants industries.

By 1996, Bey returned to singing in the Philadelphia area. In 1998, Bey's debut album, Steppin'
Out, was released on MAG Records. Health problems interfered with his ability to perform in
support of the release, and he subsequently released Blues in the Pocket in 2007 on Jeffhouse
Records. By then, Bey was brought by blues DJ Noel Hayes to the Bay Area in California to perform
with guitarist Anthony Paule and ot her area musicians. The two went on to release three albums,
You Don't Know Nothing (Live), Soul for Your Blues, and Not Goin' Away between 2013 and 2015.

In July 2018, Bey signed with Nola Blue Records. In September, he released his first CD on the
Nola Blue label, Back In Business. This was followed by the release of All My Dues Are Paid in
January 2020, an album produced by Kid Andersen.

Frank was nominated for six Blues Music Awards, two Independent Music Awards, a Blues Blast
Award and a Global Music Award.

Bey’s health was never good. He suffered kidney failure twice, the first time receiving a transplant
that lasted for 15 years. When it failed Bey returned to dialysis three times a week.

Frank Bey entered hospice care at his home in Pennsylvania on June 4th, and passed away June
7th.

Ian K McKenzie Constructed from various sources.