Frank Mannino, 81, bandleader, teacher
Tuesday, October 23, 2007By John Pope

Frank Mannino, a charismatic director of school bands across the New Orleans area who also played for such performers as Bob Hope and Henny Youngman, died Saturday of Lou Gehrig's disease at his Metairie home. He was 81.

A lifelong resident of the New Orleans area who used the stage name "Frankie Mann," Mr. Mannino could play the clarinet, saxophone and flute. He earned an undergraduate degree in music education from Loyola University and a master's degree in that subject from Louisiana State University.

During a 40-year career, he led bands at Holy Name of Mary High School, Ridgewood Preparatory School, Holy Cross School, East Jefferson High School and T.H. Harris Junior High School.


Students were eager to work with him because he was a good teacher who demanded a great deal.

"He loved students who worked hard," said Tim Laughlin, a saxophonist who was in the Holy Cross band and took private lessons in clarinet, alto saxophone and flute from Mr. Mannino.

"Even if you fell short, he was there for you, encouraging you," Laughlin said, "but if you didn't live up to being a Holy Cross man, he would tell you, and he was pretty stern about that. He instilled a lot of the discipline that we needed.

"He was one of the masters at earning respect, not demanding it."

With Mr. Mannino's coaching, Laughlin won a spot in the All-State High School Jazz Band. "He helped me get the sound that the judges liked," Laughlin said.

Mr. Mannino organized the Frankie Mann Orchestra, which played for dozens of Carnival balls and backed up performers such as Sid Caesar, Jack Carter and Perry Como. Mr. Mannino also played in the New Orleans Summer Pops Orchestra and as a musician with the New Orleans Opera Association.

He was the first chairman of the All-State High School Jazz Band and brought the National Association of Jazz to Louisiana. He was its first president.

A graduate of Warren Easton High School, Mr. Mannino was a member of the school's Hall of Fame and the Louisiana Music Educators Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his wife, Virgie Lee Mannino; a son, Milo Mannino of Columbus, Ohio; two daughters, Sylvia Jaynes and Gina Laguna; a stepson, Larry Bourgeois of Shreveport; three stepdaughters, Beth Bourgeois of Hammond, Suzanne Bewers and Jacquelyn Bourgeois; a brother, Valdo Mannino; 11 grandchildren; 10 stepgrandchildren; and two stepgreat-grandchildren.

A Mass will be said today at 1:30 p.m. at Greenwood Funeral Home, 5200 Canal Blvd. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Burial will be in Lake Lawn Park Cemetery.

Frank Mannino