Frank Greenstreet lived for jazz and made a good living at it. He once played the drums at an inaugural ball for President Dwight D. Eisenhower and later worked a stint on The Merv Griffin Show. He played at society balls and weddings in Washington, D.C.



But he found his greatest love as leader of the Clam Bayou Jazz Band, playing for much smaller audiences in the Tampa Bay area. They wore flip-flops, not patent leather shoes.



Frank Greenstreet led the band, which was founded in Gulfport, from 1976 until his death on December 10, 2010 due to myelodysplasia, a blood disorder once called "preleukemia," and heart trouble. He was 80.



Franklin Greenstreet was born in Washington, D.C., an only child. He played the drums since childhood. After he served on the front lines with the Army during the Korean War, he returned to Washington and worked for big band leader Al Donahue, playing at society balls and weddings, as well as Eisenhower's 1957 inauguration. He moved to St. Petersburg in 1959 with his parents.



He married his wife Dorothy in 1968, at age 38, the first marriage for each. He took over the jazz band in 1976.



He played his last engagement Nov. 19, at the Palm Harbor Library. As he lay in a hospital bed a week before he died, Frank Greenstreet told a friend, "Get me out of here — I've got a concert to play."