THE NOVATO FRANK BAND

Well if anybody could take the blame or credit for the start of the Novato Frank Band, the honor would go to the Grateful Dead's drummer Mickey Hart.

In 1977 in a recording studio in a converted barn, on a ranch in Novato, California, the Novato Frank Band was born. The studio and ranch belonged to Mickey Hart - known as "The Barn" or "Rolling Thunder Studios". It was fast becoming notorious for the various sessions and musicians who were taking part in the mad musical hijinx that was unfolding, including Rolling Thunder, Teacher, Soundhole, Darlene DeDominico and other sessions, featuring John Cipollina, Jim McPherson, Barry Melton, Norton Buffalo, Terry Haggerty, Sam Andrew, John McFee, Bob Weir and countless others.

It really began in 1966 when Frank Bonomolo owned an auto repair business in Novato. It was around this time that the small countryfied horseman town of Novato was being infiltrated by hordes of long hair hippie types.

One group in particular were all driving Ford Cortinas and would stop by the shop for repairs. As it turned out they were musicians which was right up Frank's Alley actually as it turned out it was the Grateful Dead, eventually they became friends, and Frank would join their extended family. In fact it was the Grateful Dead who gave Frank Bonomolo the handle 'Novato Frank'. Mickey Hart and Novato Frank really hit it of. Later when Frank approcahed Mickey about recording some songs Mickey gave Frank an ultimatum. You take me hunting for a wild pig and I'll give you a session. Well with the help of their half man half Hound Dog Pal Johnny Pine. Their hunting trip was a success. Mickey got his pig, Frank got his recording session and that was the beginning of his long addiction to the recording studio. Frank's first assault in the studio ended up with Mickey firing Frank's band with the exception of Bill Middle John Wilmes, his guitar player.

From there, Hart said "So you want to play music huh" and as rumor has it Hart at that moment appointed himself the drummer under the alias Professor Leadfoot made a series of phone calls to bring some serious musicians to come over and do things right and called the project T.S.O.N. (The Sound of Novato). Frank thought to himself "how can I say no", and within two hours the N.F.B. were ready to roll.

The legendary Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina was the first to join in, bringing with him Nicky Hopkins - keyboards man from the Rolling Stones - for the ride.

Soon Jim McPherson, Steven Schuster, members of the Diga Rhythm Band and assorted family & friends from Mickey's ranch had lent a hand and they went for it. The end result was a limited edition single on green vinyl. John Cipollina did the caligraphy & design on the label and the lettering on the sleeve. The single "Marijuana" and "Grow Your Own" received zero attention from the major labels, reasons cited being "No Commercial Potential" but that didn't deter our heroes they kept it going "Novato style" for 12 years.

Some thought these recordings would never see the light of day - while others thought Frank would continue for for the next twenty years adding more and more sessions until the tapes wore out or Frank lost his mind. Well we're happy to say that, that didn't happen, and if you enjoy this music as much as the musicians did recording it, and as we did putting it together, then all the wait will have been worth it.

Mike Somavilla

Very special thanks to the following who have helped us out or got us in trouble depending on who you are talking to while making this project a reality: Crest of the Wave Productions, Mike Somavilla, Antonia Cipollina, Mooka Rennick, Greg Anton, Kevin Haapla, Bruce Jensen, the Bonomolo family, Papa, Nonni, Laveda, Angelina, Libby, Michele, Leslie, Tessa, Frank Jr, Joe, Makala Clinton, Patrick Meynier, Marc Santori and Legend R.

I'd also like to thank our family, friends and cohorts for without their love, friendship, patience and support we never would have made it this far: The Novato Frank Band, Dan Healy, John Brenis, No Wonder Productions, Steve Keyser, Glen Chase, Jack Ellis, Joey Cassar, Jerilyn Brandelius, Wally Wathan, Avitas Sibannac, Evy McPherson, Charlie Kaiser, Joe Marquez, Robert Wagner, Bill Wagner, Stewart Hiruisto, Elliot Mazer, Natalie Martel, Anthony Redina, Mark Giddens, Dean Teskey, Allen Gibson, Ron Lavinge, Jim Shultz and family, Paul Stubblebine, Dana Chappelle, Huey Lewis, Sweet Jodie, Mike Haney, Harley Davidson Motorcycles, Inn of the Begining, Cotati Cabaret, Marshall Tavern, Garbos, Rancho Nicasio, Sleeping Lady Cafe, The Shady Grove, The Keystone Family of clubs (oops sorry about the piano) and our fans we couldn't have done it without you.

I'd also like to thank Judge Francis Kearney for the gift of my daughter, and I'd like to thank Mickey Hart, I could never thank you enough, not for the music, but for the family of brothers. I dedicate this album to you and to the memory of John Cipollina, Nicky Hopkins, Jim McPherson and Foster Orr, I love and miss you all so much.

God bless you all

Novato Frank Bonomolo

CD booklet back cover:

Mickey Hart made my dream come true to the highest degree ever conceivable. Here I was with some of the greatest musicians ever, doing it Novato style. Once I started, I couldn't stop, I was hooked. I never dreamed that the pipedream I'd smoked all those years was coming true. After the "Marijuana"/"Grow Your Own" single was finished Mickey said to me "You caught me a pig and I caught your attention, now the rest is up to you". John Cipollina, Middle John, Nicky Hopkins and myself became the recruiters of a 12 year musical journey of all time, not to mention the inseparable bonding of lifelong brothers.

Being a member of Novato Frank Band is something akin to a lifetime membership in a street gang. I met and played with a lot of great people in this band. John Cipollina, Greg Anton and Frank Bonomolo have all had profound and lasting effects on both my life and my music.

John has now passed through to The Great Beyond, as have Nicky Hopkins, Jim McPherson and Foster Orr. If I could speak to any of these guys, I would have to ask them, "Does God really have a girlfriend that sings?". We had a lot of fun making this music and over the years the friendships born of our shared interest in freedom and rock and roll have become bastions of depth and permanence in an often shallow and impermamnet world.

There are far too many tales to tell in a few short paragraphs and many of them will never be told, but as long as any of us are still breathing, there will always be another adventure, another tale, and one more song to sing.

When asked to write something about the Novato Frank Band, I had no idea where to begin; there were so many misadventures both on and off stage. Words can't begin to express how I feel to have worked with John Cipollina, Nicky Hopkins and the other cast of characters, thinking of those guys never fails to bring a smile to my face.

On of my fondest memories as a professional musician is when the band was hanging out at Frank's auto repair shop, when an elderly woman pulled up in her Cadillac. Frank asks her when the last time she had had the air in her tires changed, she said she hadn't. Frank let the air out, put it back in, charged her ten bucks and sent her on her merry way. He's just lucky it wasn't "my" mother.

Greg Anton