Frank joined the Marion McPartland Trio in 1975 while freelancing with Bobby Hackett, Dave McKenna, Zoot Sims, Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Joe Venuti, Lionel Hampton and Wild Bill Davison. From 1985 to 1990 he toured with Pearl Bailey and the Louis Bellson Orchestra and since 1996 has been with the Bobby Short Trio.

Frank has been a sought-after performer on the jazz festival and concert circuit and has appeared at the JVC Festival, Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall and Grande Parade du Jazz in Nice, France. Martin Gayford, a reviewer for the British magazine, The Spectator, writes: "Tate turned out to be that rarity of rarities, a bass player whose contribution, rather than being a lot of plinking, plonking and skittering around the strings, actually made musical sense."

Frank Tate was born in Washington, D.C. He started playing bass when he was 23 in Greensboro, NC. In '68 he decided to head back to D.C., where he eventually became leader of the house band at Blues Alley.

In 1975 Frank moved to New York to join the Marian McPartland Trio. He also began to freelance and worked with Bobby Hackett, Dave McKenna, Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Joe Venuti, Lionel Hampton and Wild Bill. From '85 to '90, Frank toured with Pearl Bailey. Most recently, he joined the newly formed Ruby Braff trio, that includes Howard Alden.