Renaissance Man: Rocky Frisco

Authors Note:

The first time I saw Rocky Frisco he made an impression.  I had no idea he was a renowned musician, but I was immediately taken by his personal style, speaking voice and presence.  He wore a classic western shirt with pearl snaps tucked into jeans with boots.  I don't recall if he wore a large belt buckle but I feel certain he must have.  Although, he was of average height with a slim build, he carried himself in a way that stood out.  Probably from all the years of performing.  He was a compelling speaker with interesting points... like wanting to do away with leash laws for cats to help control the rat population.    Over the years I encountered him several times at our bi-annual neighborhood meetings and also corresponded with him a bit about the history of the neighborhood.  Some who will read this undoubtedly knew him better than I.  This post is not intended to be complete biography and I know I'm leaving out many important things.  He was a rather renaissance man in the truest sense.  I only hope to capture the arc of his life and a bit of the Rocky Frisco that was our friend and neighbor.  

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Rocky Frisco was born Don Rosco Joseph III on July 26th, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri.  His father was an aviator who came to Tulsa to work for a petroleum company.  In 1940, the family moved to Tulsa and rented 1340 S. Florence Place for about a year.    Then, in the summer of 1941, the family bought 1332 S. Florence Place. The bungalow style home was built in 1923 and may be the oldest on the block.  

Rocky's Father, Don Joseph Jr., in 1944 with pilots Ben Funk and Ed Wagoner

Rocky shared memories about growing up in the neighborhood, "The milk man drove a horse and buggy and the side streets were dirt roads."  He also recalled, "Old timers said that just south of our house there used to be a deep ravine.  They told me they dumped old cars, like Model A and T Fords into the ravine before filling it with dirt."

Rocky attended Lanier Elementary School and started playing instruments such as the accordion and ukulele as young as eight.  While attending Wilson Junior High School, he played the mellophone in the school band.  At the same time, he was also playing the guitar, piano and french horn at church.  

Wilson Junior High School Band:  Rocky is on the far left holding the me.lophone.  

Rocky met J. J. Cale at Central High School.  After graduation in 1955, they played together in the Gene Crose band, The Rockets.  Rocky primarily played keyboard but also sang and wrote songs. 

Rocky and Johnny Cale in the old days

In 1957, Rocky was drafted into the military and went to training in Louisiana but an injury kept him from completing the tour of duty.  He reports he was honorably discharged from service.  

Over time, Rocky played in many bands including as lead singer in the Four Flames.  They recorded an album called The Big Ten.  During this time, he went by the stage name Rocky Curtiss.  Later, after he adopted the name Rocky Frisco, he was nicknamed "Racoon" by bandmates.  One of his albums is subtitled Raccoon's Revenge.  

In 1961, disillusioned after a trusted music agent embezzled royalties from him, Rocky moved to Canada.  In Ontario he worked for IBM and raced MGs and Mini Coopers.  He even drove an Austin Mini in the preliminary races for the 1967 Canadian Grand Prix!  

Rocky as an IBM Executive 1961-1969.

According to Rocky, in 1969 he quit his corporate job, grew his hair long, got back into rock and roll and never looked back.  In 1972, he returned home to Tulsa and played with the Don White Band and John D. LeVan Band.  In 1994, Rocky rejoined JJ Cale's band and embarked on a world  tour through  the US and Europe.  Rocky can be heard onkey board on several of Cales albums, including J.J. Cale Live, To Tulsa and Back and Roll On.  He also played for Eric Clapton's Crossroads Guitar Festival.  

On our neighborhood facebook group page Rocky shared "I've lived in Texas, Pennsylvania, Ontario and Europe, but I always came back here."  Tulsa was home.  1332 S. Florence Place was home.  

You can listen to To Tulsa and Back here: 

  

Rocky was inducted into the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and 2009.  In April of 2012, he received the Bare Bones Film Festival's "Living Legend" Award.  

Incidentally, the legendary Church Studio, where he recorded music including Red Dirt on 66: The blues for you in 2011, was the very church where he had been baptised in the early 1940's.  

The Blues for You is truly beautiful and haunting. 

This version of the same song recorded in 2007 has wonderful images and footage of his home on Florence Place, cars, fellow musicians and some of his local gigs.  

While in Tulsa, Rocky followed local politics.  He ran for mayor once stating "I don't know how much a mayor actually can accomplish, but I can't possibly do worse than some of the mayors we've had."  He went on to say, "I think I bring a voice of sanity and reason to any organization I'm part of."  Rocky also ran for District 4 City Counselor several times.  During one campaign he stated "Like guns and poison, politics should be used for self-defense. That's why I'm getting into this.  I don't want to be ruler or a leader.  I want to be a representative."  

As far as his long time home on Florence Place, let's just say that Rocky kept a natural looking front yard.  He described how his mother kept a wild flower and herb garden with pride and when a neighbor complained of the growth, his mother became so distressed that her blood pressure skyrocketed and began having strokes.  Rocky's explained on our neighborhood facebook group:

My front yard is full of wildflowers and wild Oklahoma plants. None of them are very high. I go out every week or so and pull the obvious weeds. I have this garden in the yard in memory of my Mother, who died in 2008. Mom had her blood pressure sky rocket and terrible strokes in 1993 after a former neighbor reported her wildflowers to Code Enforcement. The Inspection Officer who came out later in the week said no codes had been broken, but it was too late for Mom.... Last year was so dry, all I had to do was absolutely nothing. This year's rains have produced a jungle. I have ordered the Industrial Weedeater needed to take out most of the foliage without destroying the plants she loved. It's late in being delivered. If you are offended by the plants, feel free to remove them. Please leave the wildflowers and herbs. Otherwise, I will deal with it after the tool arrives. Please don't call the Code Nazis. I'm still bitter about the neighbor who reported my mother's garden as "weeds". You see, she had paid his hospital bills when he was a young boy with Polio."

A picture of Rocky's house before renovation.

Rocky's mother passed away in 2008. He continued to live in the family home, still playing rock and blues piano with the Red Dirt Rangers and at area watering holes. More things that he was active with over the course of his life included: Writing fiction, metal work, jewelry making, acting, voice over work, clothing designer....the list goes on and on. In more than one sense, Rocky Frisco was truly a Renaissance Man.


Editing by P. Casey Morgan

References:Frisco, Rocky. Personal Communication. 2013.
Rocky's Website: https://www.rockyfrisco.com
Tulsa World:
https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment/music/tulsa-musician-rocky-frisco-dies-at-77/article_18bb4dd2-73bf-55a4-82bd-dc69a650c356.html
https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/tulsa-sound-co-founder-rocky-frisco-to-run-for-city-council-seat/image_9234b485-cc77-5337-bc5e-4f74e934908a.html