The Simms Brothers – Frank & George Simms and David Bowie
Frank Simms, David Bowie, Stan Harrison and Steve Elson during the Serious Moonlight Tour, 1983. Photograph courtesy of Frank and George Simms.
The Simms Brothers — Frank Simms and George Simms — formed one of the finest vocal partnerships in American popular music. For more than five decades they have worked as recording artists, session singers, arrangers and live performers, collaborating with some of the biggest names in popular music.
Their association with David Bowie began during the making of Let’s Dance in 1983. Together they contributed the distinctive backing vocals heard on Let’s Dance, Modern Love and China Girl, before joining Bowie on the worldwide Serious Moonlight Tour. George Simms later reunited with Bowie during the Outside Tour, extending the brothers’ connection with Bowie well into the 1990s.
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- Members: Frank Simms and George Simms
- Formed: The Simms Brothers Band (1974)
- Speciality: Session vocalists, live performers and vocal arrangers
- Worked with Bowie: 1983 studio sessions, Serious Moonlight Tour and later live collaborations
- Best known Bowie recordings: Let’s Dance, Modern Love and China Girl
The Simms Brothers Band
The Simms Brothers Band performing at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Connecticut, 1982. Photograph courtesy of Frank and George Simms.
Long before they entered David Bowie’s musical world, Frank and George Simms had established themselves as exceptional live performers. Raised in Connecticut, the brothers formed The Simms Brothers Band during the 1970s, combining influences from gospel, rhythm & blues, soul, funk and rock into a powerful stage act built around their natural vocal chemistry.
Their reputation grew steadily throughout the decade as they performed extensively across the northeastern United States. Audiences quickly recognised not only the quality of their individual voices but the remarkable blend they created together. Years of singing side by side allowed the brothers to develop harmonies of unusual precision while maintaining the spontaneity and emotion associated with classic soul music.
The photograph shown here captures the band performing at the legendary Toad’s Place in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1982. At the time they were already respected musicians on the regional live circuit, unaware that within a year they would become part of one of the biggest international touring productions of the decade.
Becoming Leading Session Vocalists
The Simms Brothers‘ growing reputation soon extended beyond the concert stage. Producers increasingly sought their voices for recording sessions, recognising their ability to strengthen an arrangement without overwhelming the featured artist. Frank and George possessed the rare ability to move effortlessly between gospel, pop, rock, rhythm & blues and soul, making them exceptionally versatile studio musicians.
Over the following years they recorded with an extraordinary range of artists, including Madonna, Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Roger Waters, INXS, Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, Elvis Costello, Al Green, Jeff Beck, Nile Rodgers, Dionne Warwick, Cyndi Lauper, Simple Minds and many others. Rather than becoming identified with a single musical style, they built careers based on professionalism, musical intelligence and absolute reliability in the recording studio.
By the early 1980s Frank and George Simms had earned a reputation among producers as two of New York’s most dependable session vocalists. That reputation would soon bring them into contact with producer Nile Rodgers, who was assembling musicians for what would become one of David Bowie’s most successful albums.
Joining David Bowie
When David Bowie began work on Let’s Dance in 1983, producer Nile Rodgers assembled a team of musicians capable of combining technical excellence with musical instinct. Alongside guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan and an outstanding rhythm section, Rodgers selected Frank and George Simms to provide the rich backing vocals that would become one of the album’s defining characteristics.
Their voices perfectly complemented Bowie’s lead vocals. Rather than merely singing supporting lines, the Simms Brothers added warmth, energy and gospel-inspired depth to the recordings, helping transform relatively straightforward arrangements into richly textured performances. Their contribution became an essential ingredient in the sound that helped Let’s Dance become one of the most commercially successful albums of David Bowie’s entire career.
Recording Let’s Dance
The recording sessions for Let’s Dance took place in late 1982 at the Power Station in New York City. Producer Nile Rodgers wanted backing vocalists capable of bringing both technical precision and the spontaneity of gospel and rhythm & blues to Bowie’s new material. Frank and George Simms proved to be exactly the voices he was looking for.
Working alongside Bowie, Rodgers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carmine Rojas, Omar Hakim, Robert Sabino and the other musicians, the Simms Brothers became an integral part of the album’s sound. Their harmonies never dominated the recordings, yet they added warmth, movement and emotional lift to many of the songs.
The commercial success of Let’s Dance introduced millions of listeners to Bowie’s revitalised sound, and although Frank and George remained behind the scenes, their vocal performances became part of one of the most successful albums of the 1980s.
Signature Songs
Among the Simms Brothers‘ best-known contributions are their backing vocals on the three major singles from Let’s Dance. Each recording highlights a different aspect of their remarkable versatility and demonstrates why Bowie and Nile Rodgers continued to rely on them throughout the project.
Let’s Dance
On Let’s Dance, Frank and George Simms reinforced Nile Rodgers‘ rhythmic production with rich, soulful harmonies that perfectly complemented David Bowie’s lead vocal. Rather than simply supporting the melody, their voices became an essential part of the song’s expansive atmosphere, adding warmth, energy and a distinctive gospel flavour that helped define one of Bowie’s greatest international hits.
Modern Love
Modern Love demanded an even brighter vocal approach. The Simms Brothers helped create the song’s joyful, gospel-inspired character through tightly blended harmonies that lifted Bowie’s energetic performance. Their contribution is especially evident during the powerful choruses, where the backing vocals add excitement without ever overshadowing the lead.
China Girl
For China Girl, Frank and George adopted a far more restrained approach. Their subtle harmonies enhance the emotional depth of Bowie’s vocal performance while preserving the song’s intimate atmosphere. The result is a beautifully balanced recording in which every vocal layer contributes to the overall dramatic effect.
Taken together, these three recordings demonstrate the remarkable versatility of the Simms Brothers. Whether delivering uplifting gospel harmonies, powerful pop choruses or understated vocal textures, Frank and George consistently enhanced Bowie’s performances while remaining completely faithful to the character of each song.
The Serious Moonlight Tour
The enormous success of Let’s Dance led directly to the Serious Moonlight Tour, one of the biggest concert tours of David Bowie’s career. Frank and George Simms joined the touring band, bringing the album’s sophisticated vocal arrangements to audiences around the world.
Frank and George Simms with David Bowie in Japan during the Serious Moonlight Tour, 1983. Photograph courtesy of Frank and George Simms.
Throughout the tour, the Simms Brothers became highly visible members of Bowie’s stage production. Their harmonies faithfully recreated the sound of Let’s Dance while also bringing fresh energy to classic Bowie songs from throughout the previous decade.
Unlike many backing vocalists who remained almost unnoticed, Frank and George were fully integrated into the visual presentation of the concerts. Bowie encouraged interaction between singers, musicians and audience, allowing the brothers to become an important part of the theatrical atmosphere that made the Serious Moonlight Tour such a worldwide success.
Night after night, their professionalism and remarkable vocal blend helped deliver performances that combined musical precision with genuine excitement, reinforcing the reputation they had already established in the recording studio.
Carlos Alomar, Russell Velazquez and Frank Simms at The Cutting Room, New York City, 2024. Photograph courtesy of Frank and George Simms.
More than forty years after the Let’s Dance sessions, the friendships formed during Bowie’s career remain strong. Frank Simms has continued to appear alongside fellow Bowie musicians at concerts, tribute events and special performances, celebrating the music that brought them together.
These reunions illustrate the lasting bonds created during Bowie’s remarkable career and underline the enduring respect shared among the musicians who helped shape some of his most celebrated recordings and live performances.
Video: The Serious Moonlight Tour
David Bowie performing during the Serious Moonlight Tour (1983–1984), featuring Frank Simms and George Simms as part of the touring band. Their powerful harmonies helped recreate the distinctive vocal sound of the Let’s Dance album on stage throughout the world tour.
Working with David Bowie
For both Frank and George Simms, working with David Bowie extended far beyond performing songs on stage. Bowie encouraged collaboration, valued musical ideas from every member of his band and created an atmosphere in which everyone felt respected as both musicians and individuals.
In later interviews, the brothers consistently described Bowie as a gentleman whose intelligence, generosity and genuine curiosity left a lasting impression. Rather than maintaining distance between himself and his band, Bowie regularly invited conversations about music, literature, film, painting and current events, treating every member of his touring company as an important part of the creative process.
Frank Simms has recalled spending evenings in Bowie’s hotel suite, where the three would drink tea, exchange stories, discuss books and films, and occasionally work together on vocal arrangements for upcoming performances. Those informal gatherings became some of the most memorable moments of their years together.
George Simms has spoken equally warmly about Bowie, describing him as “the epitome of high class, dignity and charm.” While audiences knew Bowie as one of the world’s greatest performers, George remembers above all his kindness, loyalty and sincerity away from the spotlight.
Beyond David Bowie
Although their association with Bowie remains one of the defining chapters of their careers, the Simms Brothers continued to enjoy remarkable success across the music industry. Together and individually they recorded with artists representing an extraordinary range of musical styles, including Billy Joel, Madonna, Roger Waters, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Phil Collins, INXS, Elvis Costello, Jeff Beck, Dionne Warwick, Al Green, Simple Minds and many others.
Frank Simms expanded his career into television, voice acting and commercial recording, becoming one of America’s most recognisable professional voice artists while continuing to perform with Saturday Night Live and numerous recording projects. George Simms developed an equally diverse career, later settling in southern France where he continues to perform regularly, celebrating the rich tradition of French popular music while remaining active as a concert artist.
Frank Simms and Nile Rodgers at the Love Rocks VIII benefit concert, Beacon Theatre, New York City, March 2024. Photograph courtesy of Frank and George Simms.
The friendships formed during the Let’s Dance era have endured for decades. Frank Simms has continued to work alongside many of the musicians associated with David Bowie, including producer Nile Rodgers, appearing at concerts, charity events and musical celebrations that honour their shared history.
These reunions demonstrate that the musical partnerships created during Bowie’s most commercially successful period developed into lifelong friendships based on mutual respect, professionalism and a shared love of music.
Video
David Bowie performing during the Serious Moonlight Tour, featuring the rich backing vocal harmonies of Frank and George Simms.
Legacy
The Simms Brothers occupy a distinctive place within David Bowie’s musical history. Their contribution extended far beyond traditional backing vocals. Through their remarkable vocal blend, years of professional experience and deep understanding of harmony, Frank and George helped define the sound of Bowie’s Let’s Dance era both in the recording studio and on stages around the world.
Their performances on Let’s Dance, Modern Love and China Girl remain among the finest examples of ensemble vocal work in Bowie’s catalogue. The worldwide success of those recordings introduced millions of listeners to a vocal partnership that had already been refined through years of performing together.
George Simms later strengthened that connection by returning to Bowie’s touring band during the Outside Tour, extending the brothers’ contribution into a second major chapter of Bowie’s career. Meanwhile, both Frank and George continued to enjoy distinguished careers as recording artists, session musicians and live performers, earning the respect of colleagues throughout the international music industry.
Today the Simms Brothers are recognised not simply as outstanding backing vocalists but as two highly accomplished musicians whose artistry helped shape some of David Bowie’s most celebrated recordings and concerts. Their work stands as a reminder that behind every great performance lies a team of exceptional collaborators whose talent, dedication and professionalism make extraordinary music possible.
Place within Bowie’s Collaborative Universe
Among the many musicians who worked with David Bowie, Frank and George Simms occupy a unique position. Their contribution spans one of Bowie’s most commercially successful periods, from the recording sessions for Let’s Dance through the worldwide Serious Moonlight Tour, while George’s later return for the Outside Tour demonstrates the lasting confidence Bowie placed in his musicians.
Their story is one of remarkable musicianship, enduring friendship and artistic excellence. More than four decades after first joining Bowie’s musical world, the Simms Brothers remain admired not only for the recordings they helped create but also for the professionalism, generosity and musical integrity that characterised every stage of their extraordinary careers.
Official Website & Further Information
Frank Simms continues to work as a vocalist, voice artist and performer across music, television, film and live entertainment. Throughout a career spanning several decades, he has appeared on countless recordings, international tours and television productions while continuing to develop new creative projects.
For more information about Frank’s career and current work, please visit his official website:
www.franksimms.net
Follow Frank Simms
Frank continues to share photographs, memories and behind-the-scenes stories from his remarkable career through his official Instagram account, including rare material from David Bowie’s Let’s Dance sessions and the Serious Moonlight Tour.
Official Instagram:
instagram.com/frank.simms
First-Hand Contributions
This page has been created in close cooperation with Frank Simms and George Simms. Following the publication of this article, both generously shared additional historical information, personal correspondence, rare photographs from their private archives and first-hand recollections of David Bowie’s Let’s Dance recording sessions and the Serious Moonlight Tour.
Frank has also provided access to material from the contemporary diary he kept throughout the 1983 world tour, documenting events from the first rehearsals in New York through the final concert in Hong Kong. As further verified material becomes available, this page will continue to be expanded, preserving these unique first-hand memories for future generations of David Bowie fans.
Article Origin
This article has been researched and written exclusively for DavidBowieWorld.com. It combines verified historical research with first-hand material generously provided by Frank Simms and George Simms, including personal correspondence, archive photographs, contemporary diary material and eyewitness recollections from David Bowie’s Let’s Dance sessions and the Serious Moonlight Tour.
© DavidBowieWorld.com — The Frank & George Simms Archive.