Hollywood composer's tribute to Harrogate music legend

A man who worked with The Jacksons, among others, Frank Mizen was a key member of the reformed version of Wally, the Harrogate folk-prog-rock band Bob Harris steered to fame in the 1970s on Atlantic Records, and has long been hugely respected by one and all as one of the most important figures on the town’s music scene for nearly five decades.

Fellow Wally member, singer-songwrier Roy Webber hailed Frank as the greatest, most versatile, musician he had ever worked with - and a true legend.

A devastated Roy said: "He was the most talented multi instrumentalist I ever met. He could play anything. He will be so sadly missed."

As well as his key role in the brilliant Wally in its late Noughties reunion phase and his involvement with a huge list of Harrogate bands from successive generations, including Paul Middleton's Angst Band which still plays every Wednesday night at Harrogate's Blues Bar - both on stage and in studio recordings - from Zoot & The Roots to current acts, Frank also appeared on many bona fide hit records in the UK charts, especially in the early 1970s.

His son Dan, a talented musician and renowned producer himself, posted: "This morning I lost my best friend, musical mentor and dad.

"As a lot of you know, he was unwell for some time, and wasn’t expecting to see Christmas, but he carried on fighting, and writing tunes down on his manuscript paper.

"He passed away peacefully with me by his side this morning."

London-based Nick Glennie-Smith was originally the keyboard player in Wally in the 1970s.

Now based in LA, Nick often works with Hans Zimmer, contributing to scores including The Lion King, The Rock, Home Alone 3, Were Soldiers and many more.

Nick Glennie-Smith said: " Frank was a gem and, though we didn’t see much of each other the last few years, I still consider him one of my best friends for ever.

"I think I never knew a more original bass player or a more original person ~ or bloke as we used to say back then.

"Frank was introduced to me, probably in 1972, by a record producer friend who was working with a band I was playing with. We were looking for a bass player.

"Wow, did he ever fit the bill. Flowing long hair, not unusual then, immense musicianship that fitted right in with the music we were making, taking it to the next level with his innovative and melodic style.

"But it was his bass guitar that dazzled me. A souped up Fender Bass the like of which I’d never seen, and I doubt the world has since! Instead of the usual knobs for volume and tone Frank’s bass had bath taps, Hot and Hotter.

"Keil Kraft (a make of Balsa wood kit airplanes) sticker adorned the headstock, and Frank had scalloped out the wood between the frets for that signature go-faster action."

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Nick Glennie-Smith, who has also worked with musicians including Roger Waters, Roger Daltrey, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Tina Turner, Pharrell Williams and more, added: "There was this unique, innate originality stamped all over his tool-of-the-trade. Now, many people can play fast, but usually to the detriment of quality and good taste.

"Not so our Frank. He would glide effortlessly over his bass beast producing the most astonishing lines, all the while wearing this child like grin on his face as if he could hardly believe what he was able to do, yet also revelling in the fact that he could, and was doing it.

"He could get a tune out of any object you gave him, fix almost anything that was broken.

"He brought such graceful, positive energy to any situation and one could not wish to meet a nicer chap. He was a true ‘Dimon’ geezer’ ~ he was one of the true originals, brightened the lives of everyone he came across, and will be sadly missed by all. RIP Frank."

Harrogate poet/musician/artist Ashley Wreaks whose band Younger Younger 28s enjoyed a TOTP hit in the late 1990s, paid tribute to Frank Mizen, posting: "Frank was an incredibly talented musician and muti-instrumentalist, who'd already played with The Jacksons and The Commodores before I'd met him."

Harrogate singer-songwriter Becky Mills posted: "Farewell to an absolute legend, musical genius and family man."

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