Frank Dato

Francesco (Frank) Dato was born in Salerno, Italy in 1952. He has been a professional musician in the Vancouver, British Columbia Canadian music scene since he was 16 years old. Getting his start playing drums in weddings and restaurants. In 1972 he was the drummer of an original Vancouver rock band called "Zingo" where Frank Dato worked alongside musicians such as Keith Scott (Bryan Adams Guitarist), James Grant, and his childhood friends Vince Nardulli and Dave Skinner. In 1989 Frank Dato played the drums in one of the scenes of the movie "Cousins" featuring Ted Danson and Isabella Rossellini. In 1998 Frank was in "Small Mercies", a Blues Rock Recording Act that was the CFOX 99.3 Radio Station 1998 Vancouver Seeds Winner. While working the local club circuit he formed the YVR Band in the year 2000 with his friend Dave Skinner. YVR Band currently (as of March 2014) plays in several Casino's and club's in the Vancouver Lower Mainland area. YVR Band's current lineup consists of Frank Dato , Dave Skinner, Paul Minshall (toured with Darby Mills from "Headpins") and lead vocalist Jillian Mandy Hart (2012 Canadian National Karaoke Champion who has won several vocalist competitions). All "YVR Band" members have vast experience playing the Canadian nightclub circuit and concert halls. Frank Dato and Dave Skinner worked alongside "Keith Scott" (Bryan Adams Guitarist) in Vancouver Based Band "Zingo" for six years performing across Canada and the US. They eventually signed a Record Deal with "Harbor Records" of England and Producer "John Schroeder" a former A&R Exec for EMI, Tamla, and Pye Records in the UK. John produced many British Bands including "Status Quo" "Pictures of Matchstick Men". In that time they opened for and toured extensively with multiple International Recording Artists including the Canned Heat Blues Band, The Beach Boys, Brownsville Station, and John Lee Hooker. Over the years they have also worked and toured with many other great Producers, Musicians and Bands. Frank Dato has worked with Canadian Classic Rock Band "Red Rider" with Lead Vocalist "Tom Cochrane" and also worked with "Holly Woods & Toronto", "Gaye Delorme" "Amanda Hughes" , and many other top Vancouver Jazz Musicians backing Famous Rock & Motown Legends such as "Bo Diddley" , "The Supremes", and "The Mamas & the Papas". Frank Dato is also a percussion instructor and teaches people who desire to be professional musicians.