George Frayne Obituary- Passed Away! George Frayne has lived in the Saratoga region across forty years. Until Sunday morning, Sept 26, 2021, that is, as he died at his home here after a chivalrous battle versus the Big C. For the couple of Nippertowners perceiving that name, it is in all likelihood a direct result of his slashy-garish, bright works of art of pop-motivated symbolism and characters that hang in historical centers, displays, private homes, and public spaces. It’s incredible, grin prompting stuff, all piece of a deep rooted relationship with the brush that included accomplishing a MFA from the U. of Michigan.
In any case, it was at that foundation of higher realizing where George got a fascinating epithet; one that named his essence in one more type of imaginative articulation and from which he acquired wide public approval and acknowledgment:
That name was Commander Cody.
Leader Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen sprang from the Ann Arbor school bar and fraternity house scene in the last part of the ’60s as a happy time, romping funhouse of a legacy rock and roll band that immediately acquired across the nation radio play by means of a funny yet since a long time ago neglected cover melody called Hot Rod Lincoln; the story of that period’s young male interest with enormous engines and quick speed. It was a success!
As is regularly the situation, nonetheless, a diagram busting melody with the sort of eccentricity heard on this single will hang like a gooney bird on the culpable entertainers’ neck and all the time stamp them as both an oddity act and a one-hit-wonder. Such was the situation here; basically in the hearts and brains of the American Top 40 group.
In any case, as the AM pop radio world moved into the heavier and more genuine FM/Rock Era of the mid ’70s, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen assumed an alternate part in that arising and magnificent soundscape. As the gathering’s chief and piano player, George would lead them onto an alternate way.
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