Frank Sumares
Frank was born in Hayward, California October 14, 1939, to John and Hazel Sumares. He graduated from Hayward High School in 1957. In 1958 he joined the United State Marine Corps. He spent 4 years in the service mainly in San Diego and Japan. After leaving the service he returned home and worked as a food clerk and a beer driver!! In May 1963 he met and married Donna Lee. They were married 2 months short of 50 years.
EDUCATION AND TEACHING CAREER:
In 1975 went back to school, first Chabot College for AA. SJSU for BA in Music and the Cal State, Hayward for his MA in Music. While getting degrees he had a Special Teaching Credential and taught at Castro Valley High School and Diablo Valley College. Frank taught at Cal State Hayward 1979-80 and Chabot College from 1980 through 2006. He had award winning bands while there.
After retiring he taught 11 years part-time at SJSU part-time until his death in 2013. He taught and adjudicated all over California and spent his summers teaching at Stanford Jazz Workshop and Lafayette Summer Jazz Workshop.
PERFORMANCES:
He played solo piano at Kuleto’s Restaurant in San Francisco for 5 years and backed Carol Channing at local performances. He conducted the Count Basie Band for Ledisi in San Francisco and the Blue Note in New York and played all over the Bay Area.