Paul Frenzel

Frenzel, Paul W. July 20, 1963 - June 7, 2011 Paul W. Frenzel, born in Minneapolis in 1963, spent his first three years in Ann Arbor before his family moved to Middletown, Connecticut. He attended Moody Elementary School, Keigwin Middle School, and Middletown High School. He also participated in the writing program of the Center for Creative Youth in 1979. His last two years of high school were at Williston-North Hampton School, where he was graduated in 1982. There he won the George H. Higgis Prize for the graduating student who displayed outstanding character in school life. It was during these years that he developed his lifelong love of vocal music, singing with the Caterwaulers, an a cappella group, and composing his own songs. He matriculated at Macalester College in St. Paul, founding and organizing his own singing group called the Traditions, composing, arranging, and singing both traditional and non-traditional songs. The Traditions continue as the premier a cappella group at Macalester. He was graduated in 1986 with a B. A. in Law and Society. After college, Paul joined four others in Minneapolis in forming 5th Avenue. Their unique blend of voices, humor, and pop-done-a-cappella music earned numerous accolades, including consecutive National Association of Campus Activities "Artist of the Year" awards in 1992 and 1993. In 1990, 5th Avenue appeared on Fox TV's "Big Break", hosted by Natalie Cole, where it won an episode, and went on to compete in the finals for "Artist of the Year". Unfortunately for 5th Avenue, R. Kelly was also one of the finalists, and went on to win top honors for the season. During its career, 5th Avenue played thousands of dates, and opened for top artists as varied as Natalie Cole at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, the Oak Ridge Boys in Chattanooga, Henny Youngman at the Summer Festival in Decatur, IL, and Paula Poundstone in Texas. The group also sang the National Anthem for the Minnesota Twins. The group was formed in April of 1986, and performed its final US concert in May of 1992. In 1993, 5th Avenue was selected to represent Minneapolis at the summer festival of its sister city, Ibaraki, Japan. Paul continued to develop his innate musicality and to compose to the end of his life. His droll humor and a quirky sense of irony was the delight of his large circle of friends.