Frank Orchard was a fine Dixieland-oriented trombonist who, although an asset with many groups through the years, never gained much fame. Originally he played violin, then banjo and tuba, before switching to trombone. Orchard studied at Juilliard from 1932-33 and performed for a year with Stanley Melba's band, but then worked outside of music altogether (mostly as a salesman) until 1941. Orchard (who often played valve trombone) became a part of the New York Dixieland scene in the 1940s, working with Jimmy McPartland, Bobby Hackett, Max Kaminsky, Wingy Manone, Joe Marsala and the Eddie Condon gang. In the mid-1950s he moved to Dayton, OH and eventually to St. Louis, still playing trombone although out of the spotlight. Orchard, who never led his own record date, returned to New York in the 1960s, working with Billy Butterfield in 1979 and regularly at Jimmy Ryan's from 1970-71. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide