Kansas City Frank Melrose

**Kansas City Frank Melrose** (1907–1941) was a fiery pianist who left his mark on early jazz and blues scenes, blending ragtime, barrelhouse, and Chicago-style grooves. Born Franklyn Taft Melrose in Sumter, Illinois, he earned his "Kansas City" nickname through his gritty, traveling-man persona despite being closely tied to 1920s–30s Chicago. His rollicking piano work graced sessions with legends like Johnny Dodds and Jimmy Bertrand, and his own tracks—like the stomping *Jelly Roll Stomp* and the soulful *Rock My Soul*—showcased his knack for bridging bluesy grit with jazz improvisation.

A rare white musician deeply embedded in Black jazz circles, Melrose’s life was as dramatic as his music. He ran a record store with his brother (jazzman Walter Melrose), mentored young musicians, and recorded under aliases like "Broadway Rastus." Tracks like *Bluesiana* hint at his raw, regional style, but his career was cut short when he was tragically murdered during a 1941 robbery. Though less remembered today, his recordings remain a time capsule of jazz’s rowdy, cross-cultural roots.