Frank Denton

[calimac]

I'd like to pay brief tribute to Frank Denton, whose death yesterday was reported on File 770. Many people, some of them known to me, have responded in the comments section on Frank as a mentor and friend in SF fandom, and I also was one who had such experiences.

I knew Frank best when I lived in Seattle. At that time he was in his 50s, though he looked older because his hair and beard were entirely white. He was as enthusiastic and involving as anyone much younger, though, so his senior status compared to us juniors never seemed awkward.

He was always friendly and welcoming. At his suggestion, I came to visit him a couple times at his home far out in the southern suburbs of the city. Our conversations were often about music, and he wanted to play me some records, in particular hoping to spark in me an interest in jazz - the André Previn trio from ca. 1960, that sort of thing - but it didn't take. My ears attuned to classical variation technique couldn't follow what jazz players did to a tune (Previn distinctly avoided bringing his classical sensibilities to jazz work).

I remember discussing this problem with Frank, and it was a good example of how I enjoyed my time and conversations with him. We stayed in touch occasionally for a while after I moved away, and I retain good memories.

Comments

[ranunculus]

This is a very nice tribute.

I remember trying and trying to understand jazz. For a long while it just seemed like noise. Going back to some very classical jazz, and even listening so some of the things that heavily influenced the beginning of jazz eventually helped me enjoy some jazz. I admit that the more modern. less melodic tunes leave me cold.

[athenais]

I was fond of Frank, who was indeed welcoming and not a geezer despite the age difference and white hair (I was 23 when I met him in 1981). I lost touch with him when I left Seattle, being too involved in my new life in San Francisco and beyond. My fault and my loss. Such an interesting guy.