Born and raised in Millen, Georgia, Frank Bey began his singing career performing gospel at the tender age of 4. Along with his brother and two cousins, their group “The Rising Sons” toured around The South making live appearances as well as radio broadcasts. At age 17 he joined the Otis Redding Revue working as the opening act for several years. During his time with Otis Redding, Bey learned to captivate and mesmerize an audience with a song. 

 

 

In the early 1970s, he formed a tight-knit radical funk group - Moorish Vanguard. But in a record deal gone wrong with James Brown, it all fell apart. Abandoned by his closest friends, Bey quit singing for 17 years. Eventually, he would find that he could never walk away from his dream. He returned to music, and despite a sudden battle with kidney failure, connected with an internationally touring blues band.

 

On stage, whether for hundreds at international music festivals or dozens at a local church, Frank Bey was radiant, powerful, and generous. His perfectly self-tailored suits were as sharp and polished as his smooth baritone voice. Off stage, one might have missed Frank. He was quiet, humble and focused. 

 

Bey was nominated in 2014 for Soul Blues Artist of the Year and for Soul Blues Album of the year for his album with the Bey Paule Band, "Soul For Your Blues."  He was again nominated in 2016 for Soul Blues Artist of the Year and for Soul Blues Album, "Not Going Away", also with the Bey Paule Band.

 

Bey signed to Nola Blue Records in 2018 for his label debut, Back In Business, released in September. Recorded in Nashville and produced by GRAMMY-winner Tom Hambridge (also on drums), Buddy Guy session musicians Rob McNelly (guitar), Marty Sammon (keyboards) and Tommy MacDonald (bass) proved perfect accompanists for Bey's rich baritone vocals. Back In Business received multiple nominations and won a Gold Medal in the Global Music Awards. Bey was further honored to receive two Blues Music Award nominations: Soul Blues Male Artist and Soul Blues Album (Back in Business).

 

On January 17, 2020, his sophomore album, All My Dues Are Paid, was released. Recorded at Greaseland in San Jose, California and produced by Christoffer "Kid" Andersen and co-producer Rick Estrin, Bey was accompanied by multi-GRAMMY winners Jim Pugh (keyboards) and jerry Jemmott (bass); multi BMA-nominee Nancy Wright (saxophone), drummer Derrick "D'Mar" Martin and percussionist Vicki Randle (The Tonight Show band). Unfortunately, declining health and the Covid-19 pandemic prevented Frank from performing his new music for live audiences, but that did little to dampen the enthusiastic response from fans, radio and media. All My Dues Are Paid received multiple honors including two posthumous Blues Music Award nominations: Soul Blues Album (All My Dues Are Paid) and Song of the Year ("All My Dues Are Paid") and the supreme achievement of a posthumous GRAMMY nomination for Traditional Blues Album.

 

Frank Bey died peacefully at home on June 7, 2020, from effects related to kidney failure; he was 74 years old.  A deeply spiritual man, Bey believed that the Universe provides what we need and that when he left this plane, he would ascend to a place of peace, justice, love and humanity.