Frankie Dunlop, born in Buffalo, New York 1928, grew up in a musical family and began playing guitar at age nine and drums at ten.

He was playing professionally by age 16 and received some classical education in percussion.

He toured with Big Jay McNeely and recorded with Moe Koffman in 1950 before serving in the Army during the Korean War.

After his discharge he played with Sonny Stitt, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins (1958, 1966–67), Maynard Ferguson (1958–60), Lena Horne, Duke Ellington (1960), and Thelonious Monk (1960–64) -
it is for his recordings with the last of these that he is principally remembered.

Later in his life he recorded with Lionel Hampton (1975–81), Earl Hines (1973–74), Ray Crawford, and Joe Zawinul.

Frankie Dunlop was a jazz drummer, one of the greats, whose performances have been raved about by critics and jazz fans alike (From a web log: "...Dunlop has this falling-down-the-stairs melodic, sloppy-droppy sh*t going on that's like fireworks going off in my head.").

Live recordings of the Hampton band from venues such as the Dutch De Muzeval in 1978 provide examples of Dunlop's craft in his later years.

In 1984, Dunlop retired, having recorded on over 100 albums.