Frank Motley

b. 30 December 1923, Cheraw, South Carolina, USA. Motley learned the rudiments of trumpet playing from Dizzy Gillespie and soon developed a novelty technique of playing two trumpets simultaneously, thereafter being known by the nicknames of ‘Dual Trumpet’ and ‘Two Horn’ Motley. After navy service, Frank studied music at Chicago and Washington, DC, and formed his own band in 1949. The Motley Crewe included drummer Thomas E. ‘TNT’ Tribble and recorded for Lilian Claiborne who placed masters with Gotham, RCA - Victor Records, Specialty Records, Gem, DC, Big Town, Hollywood and many other small labels. In the mid-50s, with the advent of rock ‘n’ roll, Motley married and moved north to Toronto, Canada, where he continued to play and perform until 1984 when he retired to Durham, North Carolina.
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