Frank Guida

Frank Joseph Guida (May 26, 1922 – May 19, 2007) was an Italian-American songwriter and independent music producer credited with creating what he dubbed the “Norfolk Sound." The “Norfolk Sound” was an amalgam of Guida’s roots in Calypso music, rhythm and blues, novel production techniques, an entirely original double-bass drumbeat, overmodulated party sound, and talented musicians steeped in jazz and rhythm and blues traditions. The distinct sound he created has been credited as influencing such major songwriters and producers as Bruce Springsteen, Phil Spector, The Beatles, and Motown. Guida’s recordings have been used in such films as Mask, Mermaids, Jaded, Clean and Sober, The Fabelmans, and Bikeriders.

Early life and education Guida was born in Palermo, Sicily on May 26, 1922. At age two, his family immigrated to The Bronx neighborhood of New York City where he grew up. He was stationed at Port of Spain, Trinidad, where he became interested in calypso music and performed as the “Calypso Kid” in the USO. That recording was cowritten by Guida, Royster, Barge, and Anderson. Guida and Bonds (Anderson) had several more billboard hits in 1961-1962, including School Is Out, Dear Lady Twist, and Twist, Twist Senora.

Guida again had a #1 hit in 1963 with “If You Wanna Be Happy” co-written by Joe Royster and Guida's wife Millie Guida. Barbara Redd, and Oliver Christian, who was known as “the Soul Cop.”

In addition to Birdland, Guida Also owned a second popular record shop, “Frankie’s Got It”, on Granby Street in Norfolk, Virginia from the late 1960’s to 1989. He is also honored with a star on the “Legends of Music Walk of Fame” on Granby Street in downtown Norfolk across the street from the former location of “Frankie’s Got It.