Frank Jeckell
Frank Jeckell talks about his musical journey and the creation of some of his well-known songs. He shares insights into the songwriting process and his experiences with other artists. Jeckell also discusses the dynamics of working with record companies.
Singer
Frank Jeckell
of 1910 Fruitgum Co.
“1,2,3 Red Light” & “Indian Giver”
About Frank Jeckell
Frank Jeckell is an American musician best known as the original guitarist for 1910 Fruitgum Company. The band achieved significant chart success with bubblegum pop hits including "Simon Says," which reached number two in the US and number one in the UK, "1-2-3 Red Light," and "Indian Giver." Jeckell toured with major acts including The Beach Boys and Paul Revere And The Raiders, and appeared on American Bandstand and other television programs.
In this interview
- Recalls how "Goody Goody Gumdrops" was written by Billy Kahl for another group.
- Discusses producer Kasenetz-Katz assigning the song to 1910 Fruitgum Company instead.
- Talks about covering songs with Ohio Express to fill album tracks.
- Describes record company decisions about which songs the band would record.
“It says Fruit Company on it, so it's really cool in his band and they did the whole album.”— Frank Jeckell, in this interview
Since this interview
As of 2026, Frank Jeckell and original drummer Floyd Marcus continue to tour with 1910 Fruitgum Company across the United States. Jeckell has made multiple radio appearances in recent years, including WABC Music Radio in April 2024 and Michael Shelley's show in January 2023.
