Frank Roberts Band in Performance

This photograph captures the high energy of performances by the Frank Roberts Band. In the background Franks Roberts (b. unknown – 2009) plays the saxophone and Wayne Perkins (b. unknown) plays guitar, while dancer appears in the foreground.

Roberts was born in New Orleans, Louisiana but moved with his family to Seattle, Washington as a child. Although he received some instruction on the clarinet and violin in school, Roberts was originally self-taught on the saxophone. In high school Roberts founded the Frank Roberts Combo, which performed together for a couple of years before Roberts left to join the Air Force. During his time stationed in England, Roberts attended the London Conservatory of Music, in order to become a band leader. He also continued playing saxophone with a large military band. After being discharged, Roberts continued playing saxophone and developed a showman’s persona during performances, which included antics such playing from the bar top or doing the splits, and earned him the moniker “Incredible Wildman on Saxophone.” Roberts returned to Seattle and formed Frank Roberts and the Soul Brothers which featured Perkins on guitar, Don Osias (1937-2014) on organ, and Dicky Enfield (b. unknown) on drums. Osias also played with other bands including The Playboys, and Red Beans and Rice, and Enfield played in the Dave Lewis Trio.