Frank Fiore: A life in Music

Producer/Manager/Musician Frank Fiore’s long musical journey crosses genres and disciplines and is based on the brilliant ease with which he captures a musical moment in time –for all time.
Born in the shadow of Broadway, nurtured by the music all around him, Frank studied piano since the age of 5. Teenaged Fiore made his Broadway acting debut in the original cast of the David Merrick production of the 5-time Tony Award winning drama “Child’s Play.”

He was still in his teens when fabled singer Peggy Lee chose Frank as her musical director/conductor. She was but the first in a long list of legends that recognized Frank’s fluid, dramatic, sensitive musical touch--including Burt Bacharach, Bernadette Peters, Connie Francis, Rita Moreno, Marvin Hamlisch, Michel Legrand, and John Travolta. His musical affiliation with Oscar and Tony Award winner Joel Grey begun in 1982, continues to this day.

His natural evolution into musical-variety television earned producer Fiore three Emmy Awards. As a record producer, his “Mostly Mercer,” tribute to the late songwriting genius Johnny Mercer, with 17 legendary artists including Rosemary Clooney, Edie Gorme, and Jennifer Holliday, is considered a classic.

Fiore was way ahead of the pop curve when he moved into Latin music. His entrée into the Latin music arena began with pop sensation Lissette’s album “Sola.” Included was the Spanish cover of Barry Manilow’s smash hit “Copacabana.” The single and the album, entitled “Sola,” reached #1 across the worldwide Latin market, resulting in his move to Miami, where, after spending the 80s in Los Angeles, he resides again today.

As personal manager of salsa superstar Willy Chirino, Fiore was the moving force in the launch of Grammy winning record label Latinum Music. In addition, he created and produced “The 3 Salseros,” the Latin spin on “The 3 Tenors,” featuring Chirino, Luis Enrique, and Tito Nieves, which debuted at Atlantic City’s Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino.

In 2002, Fiore was chosen by the University of Miami’s Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies to produce and direct the Gala Concert honoring the 100th anniversary of Cuba’s independence from Spain. This heralded event featured Cuban legends Celia Cruz, Arturo Sandoval, Willy Chirino, Albita, Lissette, and a host of others, and stands as one of the most celebrated gathering of Cuban superstars in modern day history.

In 2004, Fiore assumed the role of personal manager/producer for Tito Puente, Jr., son of the late Mambo King, Tito Puente. This affiliation has resulted in their co-production of the CD “In My Father’s Shoes” and the BET Documentary “In My Father’s Shoes: A Son’s Tribute to Tito Puente.” Tito’s latest CD, entitled “Got Mambo?”, produced by Fiore, was recently named one of the Top 25 Salsa Albums of 2010. In addition to Puente, Jr., Fiore’s company, Bridge Management, Inc. represents Latin Grammy winner Larry Harlow, Marlow Rosado y La Riqueña, and in affiliation with Eventus Marketing represents salsa royalty Gilberto Santa Rosa, Willy Chirino, The Celia Cruz All Stars and Cachao’s Mambo All Stars.

As a Symphony Pops guest conductor, Fiore has appeared with the Boston Pops, San Francisco Pops, Cincinnati Pops, San Antonio Pops, Atlanta Symphony, Houston Symphony, Dallas Symphony, and many others.

Frank lives in Miami Shores, Florida with his wife of 22 years, Kim. His passions include golf, throughbred horse racing, grandchildren Joey, Marcelina and Alyssa, and God Daughter Miranda Cristina Puente.

-written by Ruth Adkins Robinson