FRANK DE ROSE
Frank De Rose, a prominent fixture in the San Francisco Bay Area Blues scene, brings over four decades of experience to the School of the Blues Lesson Series. Throughout the years he has been a band member with the area's top Blues band leaders and performers including Gary Smith, Tommy Castro, Mark Hummel, Kenny "Blue" Ray, John Garcia, Mike Schermer, Sid Morris, and many more. Through these connections, Frank has provided his skills to a long list of national touring Blues performers including Snooky Pryor, Otis Rush, Johnny Heartsman, Nick Gravenites, Andy Just, Chris Cain, Rusty Zinn, Junior Watson, Jackie Payne, Larry Davis, Mississippi Johnny Waters, Luther Tucker, Johnny Adams, Curtis Salgado and many others. Frank's comprehensive instructional method focuses on providing a solid understanding of the bass player's role in Blues music and a deep study of the music's culture and traditions. He then takes this core of understanding and builds upon it to guide and mold his students into the role of a modern-day Blues musician. His students routinely play and participate in local bands and jam sessions. When listening to his students, it is unmistakably evident that he is very successful at passing on his passion and knowledge to the next generation of Blues bass musicians.