About Us

A few of the basses Dennis
currently owns:

After getting a used no name guitar from a relative when he was around 9 years old,
Dennis started taking lessons at a local music store. Like many kids, he quit shortly after.
Years later he asked his friend who played in a polka band, if he could join. Not having a
bass player, Dennis was asked if he wanted to learn to play the bass. Although he didn't
really know what a bass was, he happily said "yes". His mother found out about the local
high school offering an after school program with group lessons and the use of a double
bass at no charge. She signed Dennis up, and he continued on the instrument for 6 months,
before switching to bass guitar, mostly because it was easier to carry around. Shortly after
he made his first money playing the bass in bands. The year was 1969.

In 1984 Dennis attended Community College of RI, and later, Rhode Island College

majoring in music. He started studying the bass guitar and later, the double bass

from Bob

Petteruti, a very successful, busy bassist, and teacher, for 4 years. This

was the beginning

of a life long friendship, and mentor ship by Bob, which continues

today. He was the person

who encouraged Dennis to play in a few community

orchestras. It was from this exposure

that Dennis developed his playing skills and

love of classical music. It was with Bob's help, Dennis made contact with local

contractors like Ralph Stuart, Arthur Mederios, and Eddie

Rodrigues. Dennis

developed his jazz, and swing style from playing the standard tunes with

these big

bands. Wishing to continue his classical training, he studied next with Eliot Porter

the Rhode Island Philharmonic for about 1 year, before studying with David Cobb in

1996. An incredible teacher, and former principal bassist with The Boston Classical

Orchestra, David inspired and shaped Dennis' technique, sound, and approach of

both the

double bass and the music, unlike anyone else. This training helped prepare

him for work in

the classical field.

Dennis Frati has performed with many regional orchestras including being Principal with
both the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra, and the Fall River Symphony Orchestra, a
section player with the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, the Plymouth Philharmonic
Orchestra, Cape Symphony Orchestra, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, Rhode
Island Civic Chorale Orchestra, the Nashua Symphony Orchestra, the Norwalk Symphony
Orchestra, Worcester Symphony Orchestra, the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra,
Quincy Symphony Orchestra, the New England Philharmonic Orchestra, Rhode Island
College Symphony Orchestra, New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, the Bel Canto Opera
Company Orchestra, Chaminade Oratorio Chorale Orchestra, and the Ocean State
Summer Pops Orchestra.

He is also leader of The

Camerata

String Quartet

, which performs at wedding

ceremonies,

and

was

a member of

The

Claflin Hill Chamber Players. Dennis

occasionally

performed

Saint Michael’s Church in Bristol, where he

was

double

bassist with the

Saint Michael’s

Players.

Dennis played both upright bass and bass guitar with regional bands throughout Rhode
Island & Massachusetts, and now Mississippi. He was a regular member of Mike Lyons
& The Blue Moon Orchestra, a 17 piece big band which completed their first CD entitled
"Almost There "which is on sale. Also The Moonlighters Orchestra, a 14 piece big band,
and the Milestones Big Band, & the Stone Daddys' Swing Band, a 15 piece big band, and 7
piece blues/swing band respectively, and The Meadowlarks Big Band.

Since moving to Mississippi in 2007, Dennis joined the bands Coast Big Band, and
Encore, a 4 piece dance band. As a member of Encore Dennis has backed up Samantha
Lynn Hart, who is on a national tour, when she performs in Mississippi. He also performs
with The Gulf Coast Opera Theatre, recently performing "Die Fledermaus at The Saenger
Theater in Biloxi.

Dennis has also appeared in concert, with international stars such as Andrea Bocelli,

Ray

Charles, Anne Murray, Robert Honeysucker, Larry Wolfe

(

Assistant

Principal

Double Bassist of The Boston Symphony),

The Platters, Byron

Stripling,

Anne

Murray

and more in

such well know venues as Taj Mahal Hotel; Atlantic City,

Foxwoods Casino;

Connecticut, Mechanics Hall, and The Centrum; Worcester

Massachusetts

, The

Dunkin Donuts

Center,

Biltmore and Weston Hotels;

Providence,

Rhode Island,

The Gulf Coast Opera Theatre. Die Fledermaus (The Bat). Saenger Theater,

Biloxi, Mississippi. 8PM-10 PM.

Theatre;

Massachusetts, and The

Copley Hotel;

Boston,

Massachusetts,and

The Mississippi

oast Coliseum,

plus

too many more to

list.

He has been the Adjunct Faculty at Providence College, Applied Music Faculty at Franklin
High School, Faculty of the All City Orchestra, and Performing Arts School of Music of
Worcester, and individual lessons at numerous music stores throughout Rhode Island, and
Massachusetts. Dennis has been teaching privately since 1990.