Frank Hannon
Encyclopedia
Frank Hannon
Born October 3, 1966 in Sacramento, CaliforniaSacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
) is best known as the guitarist, songwriter and a co-founder of the multi-platinum band TESLA, and is now established as a solo singer / songwriter with his album "GYPSY HIGHWAY". Drawing on his early childhood influences of American Folk artists such as Bob Dylan, John Denver, and Willie Nelson, Frank Hannon has showcased his lyrical, vocal, and "acoustic" storytelling song writing abilities on the self produced album. Apart from recent TESLA concerts, Frank Hannon has been performing solo "acoustic" shows, one in particular was the KGGO "Summer Jam" in Des Moines Iowa where he performed throughout the day in between artist such as John Waite, 38 special, and BTO in front of 10,000 fans singing by himself with an acoustic guitar, and recently performing with Aaron Lewis who is also known for such solo acoustic performances. Frank has recently formed the independent label RedHawk Records.
Biography
Hannon started playing guitar and writing songs when he was 10 (1976). He joined/started the band TeslaTesla (band)
Tesla is an American hard rock band formed in Sacramento, California in 1984. They have sold 14 million albums in the United States.-Formation and Mechanical Resonance :...
at age 19 but had also played with and produced many artists. He uses guitars such as Gibsons preferably his '96 Cherry SG, ES 335, Les Paul Goldtops, Doubleneck 12/6 strings and acoustics and he uses a Dove, J50. Hannon later learned to play piano from his mother at a young age. He also played the B3 organ
Hammond organ
The Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, Bass Guitar and Drums. As the years rolled when Tesla started he and other band mates met Jeff Keith
Jeff Keith
Jeffery Lynn Keith is an American musician, best known as the lead singer of the band Tesla. He was also the lead singer for the band Bar 7 and Sofaking....
on a local radio station.
He has recorded and performed with many musicians over the last 20 years. He formed the Frank Hannon Band with Robbie Furiosi, Joel Krueger, and Billy Raney. Others that he has played with include Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts
Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his...
, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
, Moe, Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
, Roger Fisher
Roger Fisher (guitarist)
Roger Fisher is a guitarist primarily known as one of the founding members of the band Heart. His tenure lasted from 1967 until 1980.-Career:...
, Gary Hoey
Gary Hoey
Gary Hoey is a surfer-rock musician.- Early life and early career :At fourteen, Hoey often lingered outside Boston's renowned Berklee College of Music, making friends and offering to pay for lessons. To devote his time to music, he dropped out of high school and began playing Boston's local clubs...
, Steve Morse
Steve Morse
Steven J. "Steve" Morse is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his work in the hard rock band Deep Purple since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country, funk, jazz fusion, and...
, Jeff Watson
Jeff Watson (guitarist)
Jeff Watson is an American guitarist originally known as one of the founding members and lead guitarist of the band Night Ranger, in which he has played as co-guitarist with guitarist Brad Gillis. He has also released solo albums. In 2007, he left the band to pursue more challenging opportunities...
, Night Ranger
Night Ranger
Night Ranger is an American rock band from San Francisco that gained popularity during the 1980s with a series of albums and singles. The band's first five albums sold more than 10 million copies worldwide...
, Eric Martin, Y&T
Y&T
Y&T is an American hard rock/heavy metal band formed in 1974. They hail from Oakland, California...
, Jon Anthony, Jackyl
Jackyl
Jackyl is an American rock band formed in 1990. Their sound has been described as hard rock, heavy metal and Southern metal.The band is probably best-known for its song "The Lumberjack", which features a chainsaw solo by lead singer Jesse James Dupree. On the recording, Dupree alternately revs the...
, Skid Row, Scott West
Scott West
Scott West is a former Australian rules football player who played for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League...
, Cortney Daugustine, Rogue
Rogue (musician)
Rogue is a founding member and lead singer of the American goth/electropop band The Crüxshadows.-Biography:...
, Pat Travers
Pat Travers
Patrick Henry "Pat" Travers is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career with Polydor Records in the mid-1970s...
, and Kevin Hampton.
Hannon formed a band called Moon Dog Mane
Moon Dog Mane
Moon Dog Mane were a rock band from Sacramento, California, led by former Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon. The band released one album in 1998 entitled Turn it Up, which spawned two minor hits on US rock radio. In 1998, "Turn it Up" peaked at #36 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart, and in 1999 "I...
, who released one album in 1998.
In 2005 Hannon released his first solo effort Guitarz from Marz
Guitarz From Marz
Guitarz From Marz is the debut studio album by Tesla lead guitarist Frank Hannon, released independently in 2005 and sold exclusively on his website . It was also sold during his 2006-2007 solo tour. The album was recorded in a small studio in Hannon's garage...
, released exclusively through his website frankhannon.com
Frank recently played at Coaches in Rocklin for the Wounded Warriors Project (a benefit fund raiser for wounded soldiers) on Dec 31, New Year's Eve of 2010-2011.
Frank Hannon
- Gypsy Highway (2010)
- 100 Proof Live!-Live At Constable Jack's (2010)
- Guitarz From MarzGuitarz From MarzGuitarz From Marz is the debut studio album by Tesla lead guitarist Frank Hannon, released independently in 2005 and sold exclusively on his website . It was also sold during his 2006-2007 solo tour. The album was recorded in a small studio in Hannon's garage...
(2005)
Tesla
- Mechanical ResonanceMechanical ResonanceMechanical Resonance is the debut album by the American rock band Tesla. It was released in 1986. The album was certified platinum by RIAA on October 5, 1989.- Track listing :...
(1986) - The Great Radio ControversyThe Great Radio ControversyThe Great Radio Controversy is the second album by American rock band Tesla, released in 1989. The songs combine 1980s metal with some blues-influenced elements, as well as the occasional love ballad...
(1989) - Five Man Acoustical JamFive Man Acoustical Jam-Charts:AlbumSingles and Album Tracks...
(1990, live) - Psychotic SupperPsychotic SupperPsychotic Supper is the third studio album from the rock band Tesla. It was reissued outside the US in 2000 with 3 bonus tracks. The album was certified platinum by RIAA on November 5th, 1993.-Track listing:...
(1991) - Bust a NutBust a NutBust a Nut is the fourth studio album by Tesla, released in 1994.It was their final studio album on Geffen Records before the band split. The album was certified gold by RIAA on March 16th, 1995.-Critical reception:...
(1994) - Times Makin' Changes - The Best of TeslaTimes Makin' Changes - The Best of TeslaTime's Makin' Changes – The Best of Tesla is the first greatest hits album for the rock band Tesla. It includes songs from their first four studio albums, Mechanical Resonance, The Great Radio Controversy, Psychotic Supper, and Bust a Nut, as well as their first live album, Five Man Acoustical...
(1995, best of 1986-1994) - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Tesla (2001)
- Replugged LiveReplugged LiveReplugged Live is the second live album by the rock band Tesla.According to the CD Insert, Tesla recorded their entire 6 month Replugged Reunion Tour, which started in Sacramento, CA, and they chose from hundreds of tracks to produce a double live album instead of just a single, live album.-Track...
(2001, 2-CD Live Set) - Into the NowInto the NowInto the Now is the fifth studio album by the rock band Tesla. Following a six-year hiatus due to Tommy Skeoch's rehabilitation for drug abuse, Tesla reunited for this album released in 2004.-Track listing:...
(2004) - Standing Room Only (2005, Live)
- Real to Reel (2007)
- Real to Reel 2 (2007)
- Forever MoreForever More (album)Forever More is the sixth studio album by hard rock band Tesla, released on October 7, 2008. The album was produced by Terry Thomas, engineered by Michael Rosen, and recorded and mixed at J Street Recorders in Sacramento, California by Terry Thomas and Michael Rosen.-Track listing:All songs written...
(2008)