The following was written by Frank Campo’s son.

Frank Campo a Local 47 Life Member, born 1927 in New York City, is the son of and father of a Union Musicians. He passed away on August 10, 2026. He studied composition with Ingolf Dahl in Los Angeles, with Arthur Honegger in Paris and with Goffredo Petrassi in Rome as a Fulbright scholar. He received his BM, MM and DMA from USC.

Among his many works is an opera, a great deal of orchestral music including six concertos for various instruments, works for wind orchestra, several song cycles, much piano and guitar music and a wide variety of chamber music for diverse ensembles. His works are performed all over the world, and he was asked to write a famous song by his buddy Chet Baker, which is the name of one of Chet’s albums, Grey December.

In his early jazz days, he was also best friends with Charlie Parker. He taught music composition and theory at several universities including where he was the head of the composition department California State University Northridge. Later at Claremont Graduate University.

Dad, it’s hard to find the right words to say goodbye to someone who has been part of your life for so long.

You are my father, and a part of who I am. So much of what I carry with me — memories, stories, lessons, and things I may not have realized I was learning at the time — came from you.

For 66 years, I had the gift of being your son. That is a long time, and yet it doesn’t feel long enough. There is still so much I wish I could say, and so many moments I wish I could share with you.

To the best,

Darius Campo