Frederick Charles Slack (August 7, 1910 – August 10, 1965) was an American swing and boogie-woogie pianist and bandleader.
Slack was born in Wisconsin. He learned to play drums as a boy.
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Later he took up the xylophone, and at the age of 13 he changed to the piano. He studied with a local teacher throughout high school. At the age of 17 he moved with his parents to Chicago, where he continued his musical training. He met Rosy McHargue, a well-known clarinetist, who took him to hear many leading musicians, including Bix Beiderbecke and Earl Hines. His first job was with Johnny Tobin at the Beach View Gardens. He later moved to Los Angeles, where he worked with Henry Halstead, Earl Burtnett and Lennie Hayton, before joining Ben Pollack in 1934 until 1936.
He formed his own band in 1942 and signed with the newly founded Capitol Records. He recorded three songs at his third recording session for Capitol, on May 21, 1942. His recording of "Cow Cow Boogie," sung by the 17-year-old Ella Mae Morse, was the second record Capitol issued on July 1, and by July 25 it had reached number 1 on the Hit Parade. It was Capitol's first gold single.
T-Bone Walker was a member of Slack's band from 1942 to 1944 and Slack later accompanied Walker on his first solo recording for Capitol, "Mean Old World". This band also had a hit with "Strange Cargo." He also co-wrote the 1945 classic "The House of Blue Lights" first recorded with singer Ella Mae Morse, and later by
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Chuck Miller, The Andrews Sisters, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. Musicians who worked with his band included, at various times, Manny Klein and Clyde Hurley (trumpets), Bruce Squires (trombone), Barney Bigard (clarinet/tenor saxophone), Les Baxter (saxophone), Jud DeNaut (bass), and Bob Bain (guitar).
Chuck Miller, The Andrews Sisters, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis. Musicians who worked with his band included, at various times, Manny Klein and Clyde Hurley (trumpets), Bruce Squires (trombone), Barney Bigard (clarinet/tenor saxophone), Les Baxter (saxophone), Jud DeNaut (bass), and Bob Bain (guitar).
He appeared on a 1960 NBC-TV special, "The Singin' Swingin' Years," reprising his role as bandleader for Morse to do Cow-Cow Boogie. Slack was still active the 1960’s albeit as part of a piano duo or trio, appearing in clubs and cocktail lounges around the San Fernando Valley. For the last few years of his life, he suffered from diabetes and was found dead in his Hollywood apartment on August 10, 1965, from 'undetermined causes'.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Slack's body was found a few days after his 55th birthday in August 1965 by the landlady of his apartment, Mrs. Mary Coyle, who observed him through a window, apparently unconscious, and called police.
(Edited from Wikipedia & AllMusic)