Performance · Other credits
John Frigo
aka Johnny Frigo
real name John Virgil Frigo
Chicago, United States
John Frigo is credited on 907 releases across 242 albums tracked on Gatefold, active 1951–2026 — the collector-built map of who actually made the music.
907
Credits
242
Albums
8
Decades active
179
In collections
Biography
Born: 27th December 1916 Chicago, Illinois.
Died: 3rd July 2007 Chicago, Illinois.
American jazz violinist and bassist. Wrote the jazz standard Detour Ahead as part of the Soft Winds Trio with Herb Ellis and Lou Carter. Performed as a country fiddler on the National Barn Dance radio show for 13 years.
Father of Derek Frigo and Rick Frigo.
Frigo was married twice and had one son with each wife. He was survived by his second wife, the former Brittney Browne, and one son, jazz drummer Richard "Rick" Frigo, who was born to his first wife, Dorothy Hachmeister. His other son, Derek John Frigo, who was born to Browne, was the lead guitarist for the rock band Enuff Z'nuff. Derek Frigo died of a drug overdose on May 28, 2004.
Bio from Discogs
Credited work
907 releases · 242 albums · active 1951–2026
- Performance · 1,081
- Other credits · 39
- Production · 12
Studios: Village Vanguard · London House, Chicago · Universal Recording Studio · Orchestra Hall, Chicago
Discography
Records they worked on — most-collected first.

Waltz For Debby
1962

Quiet Village - The Exotic Sounds Of Martin Denny
1959

Helen Merrill
1955

Portraits At The Penthouse Live In Seattle
2025

Wanted
1970

A Rare Live Recording Of Billie Holiday
1964

Silent Night - Songs For Christmas
1962

Stan Getz And The Oscar Peterson Trio
1957

Treasures: Solo, Trio & Orchestra Recordings From Denmark (1965-1969)
2023

Y'all Don't (Really) Care About Black Women
2021

Moonlighting (The Television Soundtrack Album)
1987

Further Ahead (Live In Finland 1964-1969)
2025

The Complete Live At The Village Vanguard 1961
2002

The Village Vanguard Sessions
1973

More From The Vanguard
1984

Goodbye
1974

Patchwork
1972

Reflecting
1964

Music To Break Any Mood
1960

Percussion In Hi-Fi
1956

Detour
2025

Stan
2019

The Exotic Sounds Of Martin Denny • Quiet Village & The Enchanted Sea
1997

Blame It On My Youth
1991
Frequent collaborators
- Billie Holiday
- Various
- Helen Merrill
- Bill Evans
- Ken Nordine
- Anita O'Day
- Mara Lynn Brown
- Johnny Frigo
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