Dave Frishberg Is 86

Today is Dave Frishberg’s birthday. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1933. Frishberg is a splendid pianist who has worked with Zoot Sims, Bill Berry, Ben Webster Carmen McRae and too many other leading musicians to list. His greatest fame, however, has come through his songs. Many of Frishberg’s pieces have become parts of the standard repertoire, among them “I’m Hip,” “Peel Me A Grape,” “Dodger Blue,” “Van Lingle Mungo,” and (with Johnny Mandel), “You Are There.”

Preparing this recognition, I was surprised to find that despite his profusion of recordings, there are surprisingly few Frishberg performances on video. Here is one of those rarities, Frishberg on the Tonight Show in the days when Johnny Carson was the host.

                 

Happy birthday to Dave Frishberg.