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Frank Doblekar

Frank Doblekar Exploring A Spiritual Path in Music

About Me

Frank began his professional music career when he was barely out of grade school. He was brought up playing with his father in his native Cleveland Ohio, accompanying him performing traditional European folk music and the American songbook in dance halls and social clubs throughout the city. As Frank matured was attracted to the Classical repertoire and excelled in his studies of clarinet with John Cox of the Cleveland Orchestra. His studies then took a turn toward Jazz in High School when he met his lifelong friend Joe Lovano. Joe had already been performing regularly with his father in clubs around the city and the two embarked together on a journey to learn from each other and the jazz masters that were their heroes. This led to Frank enrolling in the music program at Kent State University and then furthering his studies graduating with a master’s degree from Cleveland state University. Frank’s career quickly progressed as he became a first call session musician and sideman for many a wide variety of artists including Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis and a host of others. Frank never lost touch with the Jazz and World Music scene additionally performing with his friend Joe Lovano, Bill DeArango, Bill Dobbins, Roswell Rudd, Halim El Dabh and Ramnad V. Raghavan. He toured Europe with Donald Ayler interpreting the music of his brother Albert to international acclaim. Frank’s most recent work with musical partner Phil Raskin in the band Satya has produced two albums released to critical acclaim. His commitment to exploring the spiritual path through music has been embraced in the spirit of gratitude and reverence for all of those teachers and experiences that have shaped his musical journey past, present, and future.