The development of modern Marco Island burst at the seams in 1976 when Frankie Ray and Maryellen showed up unexpectedly for a two-week gig at the Marco Beach Hotel's Voyager Restaurant and Lounge.
Entertainment was a central theme of Deltona Corporation's Marco Island Dream development and sales plan. Deltona's crown jewel, the Marco Beach Hotel, opened in 1971 with its 400 rooms. This was the island's entertainment mecca, with live music venues strategically placed throughout the resort. And while all the entertainment was top-notch, the people's picks were Frankie Ray and Maryellen.
Maryellen was a beautiful, statuesque brunette with an infectious smile, kind personality, and the voice of an angel. A beautiful dress was her final touch.
Charismatic Frankie Ray was as handsome as Maryellen was beautiful. His fourth-generation descendant from a circus family, Frankie Ray was literally born and raised to entertain. Equally accomplished as a singer, guitarist, and storyteller, Frankie Ray captivated audiences night after night.
Marco Island's entertainment was arguably ahead of the island's infrastructure in the 1960s and 1970s. Deltona Corporation, led by Frank Mackle Jr. and brothers Robert and Elliott, knew that top-notch entertainment was a great ally in selling the Marco Island lifestyle. Prospective guests from all over the country flew into Marco every week to wine and dine in high style at the Marco Beach Hotel and the beautiful new Marco Island Country Club. A-list celebrities were flown in for the annual Tony Lema Memorial Golf Tournament, where they stayed in hotels and country clubs.
Meanwhile, Marco's streets and canals were still under construction as part of a major reclamation and dredging operation. No development occurred south of the Marco Beach Hotel (now the JW Marriott) until the 1970s. In fact, the only structure on Marco Beach south of the hotel was an old missile tracking base at the point of the Caxambas Pass. Currently, Cape His Marco's condominium stands on that site.
Frankie Ray and Maryellen were regular entertainers at the Diplomat Hotel on Florida's east coast when their agent booked them a fateful gig at the Marco Beach Hotel.
“Coming to Marco was a big mistake,” Frankie Ray Ortiz said. “We were at the Diplomat and we had a contract, and the owner asked me, 'Can I stay at the Diplomat Hotel for another year?'” So we went to the King and I was treated like a queen. One night there was a special party for big stars like Tony Bennett and we were supposed to attend the party to mingle with the stars. So our agent went and booked us for two weeks for less money than we were making over there, and the deal was signed, so we came to Marco Island, and , it's over. It turned out to be three years at the Marco Beach Hotel and three years after Marriott acquired the hotel. ”
Frankie Ray's childhood memories from age 3 revolved around the circus where the whole family sang, danced and did aerial work. They were also ventriloquists, fire eaters, clowns, musicians, and magicians. He saw his mother on drums, his brother Steve on trumpet and his father Ruben on trombone playing music in front of the circus tent and inviting people inside to watch the show. I remember. He started playing guitar and singing at the age of six.
“I knew I had to do something in show business to prove myself and be part of the family,” Frankie Ray said in his just-released book. Frankie Ray and Maryellen, we walked among the best.
He's not kidding when he says they're among the best. Their list of friends is a who's who of the entertainment industry: Nat King Cole, Liberace, Count Basie, Jimmy Durante, Harry James, Tony Bennett, Doris Day, Rock Hudson, Lawrence Welk, Tom Jones. , Cesar Romero, Jackie Gleason, Marvin Hamlisch, Don Rickles…the list goes on and on. Oh, and they interacted with some of the most famous athletes: Jesse Owens, Roger Maris, Rocky Graziano, Rocky Marciano, Jack Dempsey…to name a few.
And for every celebrity encounter, there's a story that Frankie Ray will gladly tell you.
“Jesse Owens,'' said Frankie Ray, “sat in front of us on Voyager three nights in a row. And I went up to him and said, Mr. Owens, You must really like the food here. You came here three nights in a row.'' He said, “No, baby, I love your songs.'' You and your wife really do. We're good friends. ” We took a photo with him and he signed an autograph for his father-in-law, who was a runner and won many awards in high school. And he signed: To my friend Jesse Owens.”
Then there was the era of Telly Savalas and Jackie Gleason.
“We ended the show with a medley of rock songs,” Frankie Ray said. “And at the end it was Amen. So Jackie Gleason had to come out with a microphone and sing with us. When we finished that, he said, 'Come on. Kids, you're going to eat at my dinner table.'' So that night we had dinner with Jackie Gleason, Maury Amsterdam, Telly Savalas, and French movie star Denis Darcel. .
“All the big entertainers were walking past the lounge while we were singing there,” Frankie Ray said. “We were in the lobby when Telly Savalas left the hotel. He came over and said, 'Frankie, Maryellen, I'm leaving now.' By the way, I enjoyed your music. Then he turned and said to Maryellen, “Who loves you?”
Frankie Ray looks back at a photo taken with Jimmy Durante, the famous comedian, actor, singer and pianist.
“It was Copacabana,” Frankie Ray said, “and my manager at the time let me take a picture with him. He told him, 'I'm trying to develop this young man. So when Jimmy Durante came out to take the photo, he said to me, “You look like a star.'' “Thank you, thank you!” I said.
Liberace was among Frankie Ray's friends.
“He was standing at the bar because he had some business to do with my boss. He came to the bar in jeans and a T-shirt and said to me, 'Frankie, I am.'” Frankie Ray said. I love this material,” I said as he touched the sleeve of my shirt. “Lee, I'm straight.” I have his autograph at home, I told him I'm going to California on vacation, and I'm going to frame it. “I'll take you to town.'' I mean, really, Liberace, I never said he was a great talent. ”
It was in New York City that Frankie Ray met Maryellen. He was looking for a female singer to work with. He was on her work call when he met her. She was part of the company's typing pool.
“I called her and asked her if she could come to my house and audition. She came to my house and before she sang a single note, I looked at her and said, ' This woman will be my wife for the rest of my life.'
It was the beginning of a marriage that lasted 47 years.
“She had a dream in life to get married and have a little girl and sing for people and have someone accompany her,” Frankie Ray said. “My girlfriend, who I knew when she was 18, called me out of nowhere and said, 'You made her dreams come true.' Another dream I had was that she was singing and someone was playing the guitar next to her, and it turned out to be me.
After six years at the Marco Beach Hotel, Frankie Ray and Maryellen decided to open their own restaurant. In 1986 he opened La Casita in the Shops of Marco Shopping Center, where he built a long and successful career.
Frankie remembers getting a call from CNN anchorman Don Farmer, who had lived on Marco Island for decades.
“Don called me and said, 'Frankie Ray, I'm Don Farmer. I'm at CNN. I'm going to Marco Island. Can you write me a song?' , I had forgotten all about it, and then suddenly I got a call: “Hello, I'm Frankie. Do you have any songs?'' I said, “Yes, I do.'' But it only took me 15 minutes to write because I got my guitar and went into my bedroom and went fishing and saw pelicans and all that stuff. ”
In 1984, the Chamber of Commerce honored Frankie Ray by making his song “Marco Memories” the official song of Marco Island.
Despite his rise to fame, Frankie Ray didn't hold back when asked about the highlights of his life.
“I met my wife,” Frankie Ray said with tears in his eyes. My wife and I, it wasn't a marriage. It was always a honeymoon. We were together for 47 years. we were exactly the same. Our humor and all, she would listen to my stupid jokes and laugh at them, and she would come up with jokes from time to time. But we were exactly the same.
A woman had come to pray the rosary for Mary Ellen, who was ill. One day she said, “Can you stay a little longer today?” So I came to the Marco Island Historical Society and brought a large photograph. And they said, “You're going to go to a museum.” So I went back and whispered, “Mariellen, by the way, your name will stay forever.'' And she says, “Why?'' I said, “Why?'' “We're at the Marco Island Museum now, and she smiled. She was very sick at the time. She couldn't believe she was going to die.”
Mariellen passed away on December 19, 2019. Currently, Frankie Ray, 83, is responsible for ensuring the survival of the show.
Frankie and Maryellen, we walked among the bestis available for purchase on Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
This 100th anniversary article is sponsored by…Siegel Dental