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Frankie appeared on many local live
television shows before he did his first nightclub show in Chicago
at the "Casino of Tomorrow" when he was 15. He continued
performing at fairs, clubs and theaters throughout the midwest area
until he was 19. While most of his training was with his father, Frank
Trenery, Frankie also studied with Jimmy Payne, Tommy Sutton and Nick
Castle.
Frankie entered the Army, where he
received his paratrooper wings after training with the 11th
Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He was shortly
placed with the entertainment division, and spent the rest of his
enlistment performing, choreographing, and overseeing off-base USO
clubs. Frankie also appeared on WSIX-TV in Nashville every week
until he was transferred to 3rd Army Headquarters Special Services.
After his discharge in 1956, Frankie returned to Chicago to resume his entertainment
career. Frankie was performing at the Wildwood Lakes Resort in
Kansas City when he received a call from his agent telling him that he was to
be the new opening act for the Elvis Presley shows. His first show
was on Thanksgiving weekend in Toledo, Ohio, and Frankie will never forget the thanks he gave that year. Frankie remained
as the opening act for all the Elvis road shows for the next nine
years. When not performing with Elvis, he was appearing
throughout the United States in nightclubs, theaters and television.
In 1976 Frankie retired from performing
and opened a studio in Tucson, Arizona, where he has been teaching for
the last 30 years. Under his tutelage, his dancers have won
numerous national championships in the competitive dance field during the last 25 years.
Many have gone into teaching as well as professional careers.
Frankie has taught
many workshops throughout the states and abroad. He has been guest
teacher and judge for many dance conventions, including
the Professional Dance Teachers Association, Gotta Dance,
Stardust Dance Productions, Dance Caravan, Miss America
Regional and various cruise lines.
In 2005 Frankie sold the studio, and is now busier than ever with
competition choreography, teaching classes and workshops, and working
with dancers and dance companies on a consulting level.
Frankie is happy to be training the women of Tap Sensation as an enchanting diversion from his many other endeavors.
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