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San Diego --- Echoes of the era of swing music and big bands in the Republic of Panama have truly moved on with the the passing of alto saxophonist and bandleader Frank J. Jeanmarie, Sr. His “forever” wish to join his wife of 69 years Christiana, who died last November 14, was fulfilled with his burial on May 1. Frank was 95 years of age.

In the early 30s when swing music and big band sounds from the United States were the local listening and dance craze in Panama, Jeanmarie’s Washboard Rhythm Kings orchestra reigned as Central America’s foremost swing band through the mid-40s. “I can recall my mom taking me to the Cotton Club, the Renaissance Ballroom and the Elks Lodge to watch people dance to my father’s band,” I noted in my father’s eulogy at Queens of All Saints Catholic Church in San Diego. “I still visualize women in frill-hemmed semi-long dresses and round straw hats dancing with guys in zoot suits and big hats to his music.... I used to wonder if I was confusing those events with movie scenes I had seen, but when I associate my recollections with conversations I had with musicians and friends of my father, I know I am not.”

Jeanmarie considered music in this pivotal period of Panama’s history an exciting time for Panamanians of French- and English-speaking descent. You had to be versatile and know many of the latest tunes to be able to play for dances that were only quadrille, swing , folkloric or Cuban Latin music. I learned how to transpose music from recordings for band arrangements from my dad. He transposed popular swing band arrangements from recordings for his band and copied Latin recordings for other up-and-coming local Latin bands. Jeanmarie’s repertoire had many of his own compositions and arrangements, and those of other band members.

The band has such talented musicians a pianist Ray Cox and drummer Owen “Big Fletchit” Campbell, who later settled in Germany, formed their own trio and toured Europe. Trumpeter Victor McDonald and tenor sax Robert Rodgers also formed their own bands and later immigrated to the US to join well-known bands. My dad always told me to move with the times because Panama is a Latin country, so swing music will pass as the popular music, citing the rise in Latin bands and local radio stations, whose programs replaced the popularity that the US Armed Forces radio station enjoyed at the time.

To meet the challenge of World War II and the dynamism in Panama’s society my dad downsized his band and marketed his music to clubs on military bases and US civilian clubs because they only wanted small groups. Jeanmarie was also sought after by Colon night club owners because of his wide knowledge of US songs, historic military tunes and his ability to entertain the troops. Also, he loved traveling with small groups headed by timbalero Martín Ceballos and singer Juan Coronel to places in the Interior, where he took my and my brother along a lot.

Latin band leaders considered Jeanmarie one of the foremost lead alto sax players among Panamanian musicians. He could be heard on Colon radio stations Sunday mornings with Chichi Herrera’s orchestra and on Tuesday nights with Luis Alarcón’s orchestra in the mid-40s. In the early 50s he played with Armando Boza and other well-known orchestras in Panama. At carnivals he could be found playing lead alto with the Luis Alarcón Orchestra and Cuban singer Orlando “Cascarita” Guerra one year and with Pérez Prado on piano and singer Benny More the next year.

My dad had a curious view of the words “till death do us part,” which he always mimicked in jest with my mother. He would always shout “it’s forever” and she would just glance at him and smile. With my dad it’s not only what he said that fascinates me, but how he carried it out. He always said his marriage was forever, but it’s not until now do I realize what he really meant.

Returning home from his wife’s funeral in November, Jeanmarie remanded himself to bed, losing all interest in resuming the vigorous life of a man of 95 who took only two vitamin pills and walked almost three miles daily. He died April 26. Jeanmarie is survived by two sons, one daughter, 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. He was laid to rest in the same grave, in a separate crypt, with his loving wife Christiana. “Forever.”



Also in this section:
Frank J. Jeanmarie, Sr., bandleader
Fourth of July picnic
Panamanian Friendship Reunion
The Panama News in court

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