Born in Detroit, Michigan, in a family that included brothers Russell and Gasper, Rosolino studied the guitar with his father starting at age 9. Frank took up the trombone at age 14, and graduated from Miller High School, while playing in the Cass Tech Symphony Orchestra, a fine music program that also produced Donald Byrd. Following service in the U.S. Army's 86th Division during World War II, he played with the big bands of Bob Chester, Glen Gray, Tony Pastor, Herbie Fields, and Gene Krupa. He became famous during a stint in the most popular of Stan Kenton's progressive big bands, (1952-1954), and settled in Los Angeles, where he worked with everybody in the business: Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All-Stars (1954-1960), Terry Gibbs, Shorty Rogers, Benny Carter, Buddy Rich, Dexter Gordon, Carl Fontana, Jean "Toots" Thielmans, Stan Levey, Shelly Manne, Pete Christlieb, Bobby Knight, Conte Candoli, Med Flory, Donn Tremmer, Mel Tormé, Louis Bellson, Marty Paich, Zoot Sims, Quincy Jones, and Tutti Camarata. He attempted to maintain his popularity in the 1970s through high-profile associations with non-jazz bands, including Tower of Power and Brass Machine, but most fans remember this period in his career through his association with Med Flory's Supersax.
Frank's third wife, and the mother of their two sons, committed suicide in February 1972 in Los Angeles, California, and he was overheard telling his girlfriend that her suicide forced him to contemplate his own death. He died in 1978 in Van Nuys, California, committing suicide after shooting both sons, Justin, 9, and Jason, 7, his only children. Jason survived, blinded, and was adopted by his mother's cousin, Claudia Eien, and her husband Gary.
The International Trombone Association established its first award for jazz trombone in Frank's memory, and he continues to be remembered as one of the greatest jazz trombone players of all time.
You're A Sweetheart
Frank Rosolino Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If there ever was one, it’s you
Life without you is an incomplete dream
You are every sweet dream come true
My search was such a blind one, my mind was all at sea
I never thought I’d find one quite so perfect for me
Yes, you’re a sweetheart, if there ever was one
If there ever was one, it’s you
You’re a sweetheart, if there ever was one
If there ever was one, it’s you, my pretty little darling
If there ever was one, it’s you
The Frank Rosolino song "You're A Sweetheart" is a tribute to a person who is cherished and adored more than anyone else in this world. The lyrics convey how the singer feels about their love, how they are the embodiment of a perfect dream come true, and how life without them would be incomplete. The song starts by saying "You’re a sweetheart, if there ever was one / If there ever was one, it’s you", implying that the person the singer is addressing is the one and only true love. The second line of the verse, "Life without you is an incomplete dream / You are every sweet dream come true," reinforces how much the singer adores their love.
The second verse talks about the journey the singer went through before finally finding the perfect person. The singer acknowledges that their search for true love was difficult and at times, their mind was all over the place. However, they never thought they would find someone as perfect for them as their love. The bridge repeats the opening verse with a slight variation on the second line, "If there ever was one, it’s you, my pretty little darling. / If there ever was one, it’s you", emphasizing how much the person the singer is addressing means to them.
Line by Line Meaning
You’re a sweetheart, if there ever was one
You are an incredibly kind and loving person
If there ever was one, it’s you
You are the epitome of a sweetheart
Life without you is an incomplete dream
My life would feel empty without you
You are every sweet dream come true
You fulfill all my wishes and desires
My search was such a blind one, my mind was all at sea
I was lost and uncertain before I met you
I never thought I’d find one quite so perfect for me
I never imagined meeting someone as wonderful as you
Yes, you’re a sweetheart, if there ever was one
I can’t stress enough how kind and loving you are
If there ever was one, it’s you
You truly are the definition of a sweetheart, my love
You’re a sweetheart, if there ever was one
You are the sweetest person I’ve ever known
If there ever was one, it’s you, my pretty little darling
I cherish you and all your sweetness, my beloved
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIMMY MCHUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind