Who Were the Thunderbirds?

Francis F. Rowe was the only child born to Theodore and Eileen (Cleary) Rowe on September 15, 1942.  As a young child he lived in various cities across the United States.  His Father was a Sgt. in the US Army and was stationed at various military bases across the country.  He lived as far east as Aberdeen, Maryland and as far west as Las Cruses, New Mexico.  It was while In New Mexico around the age of 14 or 15 he acquired a deep love of music.  Having parents that believed in earning the money for your dreams and being disciplined in your efforts, he soon achieved his goal to purchases his first bass guitar.  This was acquired by doing odd jobs on the military base from washing cars, to babysitting for military personnel.  After attaining his guitar he set out to teach himself to play bass.  Not having an instructor, Frank, played bass using his thumb, which became lightening fast to assess the sound he desired.  This became a noted signature of his bass playing.  Frank was a self taught musician and had taught himself to play several instruments over the course of his musical career.  He had learned to play piano, his twelve string guitar and drums.  He had purchased an old piano and had learned to play it well.  He was told by many people he had a special touch when he played it.  He had placed thumb tacks on the back of hammers to make it sound really honkytonk.  Always experimenting with sound and reinventing himself as a well rounded musician, is what his friends remember most about Frank.

He had a relative getting married who could not afford any live music so he taught his brother-in-law, Richard Pryor to play drums.  He played his twelve string guitar and sang at the wedding.  This made Wally, his wife's cousin, very happy and a good time was had by all.

Upon returning to Oswego, his mothers hometown, his father was stationed in Fort Ontario.  He once lived in the building that is now, the Art Guild Center.  He moved to West Fifth Street and attended Oswego High School.  He participated in many high school functions including winning a variety show in his senior year.  His first group of guys he played with were The Thunderbird's in 1957 or 1958.  This band consisted of  Tommy Bachelor, Bill Lahey, Bill Murray and Frank on bass.  They played various gigs around the Oswego area.  When Frank was 17 he enlisted in the Air Force taking the time to teach James Dillabough to play bass, as a replacement for him in the group in 1959.  

Frank was always a considerate person, not wanting to leave The Thunderbird's without a bass player.  He enjoyed teaching Jimmy, who played in his place from 1959 through 1963.   Jimmy Dillabough was to become one of the most important people in Frank's life.  According to Frank, teaching Jimmy became one of his best accomplishments because of the strong friendship between the two young men.  Jimmy had met Frank while he set pins at a downtown bowling alley.  Frank loved him as a brother and throughout the years prior to Frank's death they spent an incredible amount of time together, even if it was just sharing a cup of coffee.  One story Jimmy was to tell about Frank was the time he needed his car repaired.  Frank crawled under the car, in the wet, it was really cold out.  Jim said he felt so bad but Frank had gotten the repair done and they went inside Jim's house.  He didn't know how to thank Frank and told him so, "That was so cold and rotten thanks for doing that for me".  Frank replied to Jimmy, "What are friends for if you can't use them".  This was the type of person he was and never complained if you needed some help.  He also helped Jimi Oakley with guitar playing as well as many other people who loved music as much as he did.  Therefore, he was always a willing participant when you needed some help in the music field.  

Another good friend was Pat Hillman who Frank had said many times he had a great respect for.  This was attributed to Pat's abilities on keyboard.  He helped many of his friends when they needed anything.  Pat told Frank's family Frank did "Georgia on my mind", and it was the best rendition he had ever heard and he sang it like no one else ever had.  Unfortunately, there was no copy of this.  Whenever Pat needed a car fixed, Frank was there to help.  Pat said, "Frank would give you the shirt off his back."

Frank married Brenda Pryor in June 1965.  He went on to have four children, a daughter, Shannetelle Champagne in 1965, three sons, Francis Jr. in 1967, Thomas in 1972 and Cameron in 1976.  His talents have lived on with his children.  Tommy plays the drums.  His other three children can be heard singing at any karaoke event.  He has two grand daughters that sign well, both have tried out to further themselves.  Jessica (Rowe) Myers for American Idol and Casondra (Cassie) the Voice.  Cassie can be heard at any open mic when they are around town.  He would be so proud.  He would have helped them along the way but it goes to show talent lives on in those you love even though they aren't here.

Frank was a boomer who worked as a pipe fitter and welder in his early 20's, traveling to many states to work in his trade but his greatest love and passion was his music.  While living in Toledo, Ohio, Frank bought a six string in one of the local music stores there.  With a tape recorder in hand Frank started to play the six string and record himself singing.  he spent hours holed up in his bedroom singing and playing.  

As his confidence grew as a signer, he joined several different groups throughout his musical career.  He played in a rock group called The Crystal Ship and sang a few songs.  This band consisted of Donny Hoey, Billy Carnal, Butch Knight, Pat Hillman and Frank Rowe.  This group went on to win the battle of the bands in the armory in Oswego in 1969.  The Crystal Ship had many gigs in the Oswego area from the Pinorama to The Polish Club.  They also played weddings and clam bakes.  This group lasted about two years.  

One of the groups that had a large following was Tangerine, formed in the 70's.  This group consisted of Pat Hillman on keyboard, Billy Barlow on drums, Freddie Greco on sax and vocals, Jimmy Dillabough on bass, Frank doing vocals and twelve string with a pick up.  Tangerine had a large following and Freddie and Frank would each take one side of the room and have the audience participate in singing and humor.  Freddie and Frank proved themselves to be great performers and put on a wonderful evening of entertainment.  Tangerine did several different skits.  Dressing up like different cultures and characters.  From Mexicans, to a night of fright, from some of the old classics such as vampires, the mummy, the hunchback, werewolves, and Frankenstein.  They really knew how to work a room and get the crowd wound up and participating.  One evening as they walked into the Driveway Inn, Jimmy overheard a customer say, "I was hoping that group that played last week would be here".  We are but dressed as greasers tonight.  No one could underestimate the fun Tangerine had and the fun their audience had doing these skits.  Robert Castaldo, Frank's brother in-law made a fiddle coffin for the group to use in one of their skits when they dressed as Dracula, done by Freddie Greco.  It was hilarious with the fake smoke.  People loved it.  Tangerine played six nights a week at the Holiday Inn.  Sometimes having a clambake or wedding reception in the afternoon.  One of the busiest groups of that time.  

The last person Frank was to play with was his best friend, Jimmy, in a duo called Frank James.  Thanks to Jimmy for the two CD's we have of him and Jimmy in this duo.  Although upon hearing these caused us some tears it also caused us a tremendous amount of happiness to have his voice come back into our lives.  He wrote many of his own songs, some are not recorded but one is, "Why Do I Still Cry at Night".  It was a joy to hear this once again.

Perhaps Dave Rebeor, a fellow musician and dear friend said it best, July 15, 1981 in The Palladium Times.  

To Frank: 

"Time has given us a reason to be like a leaf on a tree, to complete a beautiful scene, an artist takes his time to express his feelings, just one leaf, as Frank has done his scene.  He has painted one beautiful leaf.  

Let us thank our friend, Frank, for his leaf that he painted on this tree of life which we will share.  We will always feel his presence when a soft breeze blows and the first snow of winter falls.

Like a song out of tune and out of time all I needed was a rhyme for you c'est la vie is there no song I can play for you c'est la vie".

No one knows the future but we now have more of a connection to the past.  The family of Frank Rowe wishes to thank everyone who has made this induction possible.  We honor our father and we bless you friends of our Dad...  We need you all to realize how you have changed our lives by paying tribute to a man that was so loved by so many.  Once again, we thank you and in the famous words he said to his friend Jimmy, we say to you all, "What are friends for if you can't use them".