Biography

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Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle

2024 Musician of the Year - Violin/Fiddle

2020 AirPlay Direct Evolution Grant Recipient

Randall Franks

Sacred Sounds of Appalachia

Top 25

Best Bluegrass Album of the Year 1992

NARAS

Quotes About the Album

"A fine collection of old hymns." Nick Nichols, Bluegrass by the Bay October 1992

"Randall Franks is truly a hard-working caring entertainer." American Indie Bullet Country Music Magazine April 1992

"Franks' love of native American music and his family roots inspired him to produce..."Sacred Sounds of Appalachia." Entertainment Express August 1992

Randall Franks shared about Sacred Sounds of Appalachia in publications including Modern Screen's Country Music Special, Country Music Close Up (CMA), Country Music News, Country Music Round Up (England), Country News (Switzerland), Country Gazette (Netherlands), GSU Emphasis, ACM Country Focus, Country Plus Magazine, The Nashville Musician, The Singing News, Bluegrass Unlimited, International Bluegrass, The Music City News, Gospel Voice, Fort McMurray Today (Canada) and others.

Upon its release, Randall Franks shared about Sacred Sounds of Appalachia on shows incuding, TNN's Miller and Company, The Buddy Bain Show, 300 Stations on Coast to Coast Country Radio,50 Stations on Inside Country News, 10 stations on Country Concert Update, The Larry Black Show on WSM,and numerous others.


Randall Franks
rfrankscatoosa@gmail.com
(706) 963-0116
http://www.randallfranks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RandallFranksActorDirectorEntertainer/
Crimson Records


International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Legend and Independent Country Music Hall of Famer Randall Franks, former NBC and CBS star - “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” was introduced musically to an international audience on the “Country Kids TV Series” in 1983 and began guest starring for Grand Ole Opry ® in 1984, in addition to appearing with two of its greatest acts - Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys and Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys.

The Independent and Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fames member shared a top country vocal collaboration with Grand Ole Opry stars The Whites. His work connects him to the legacies of 33 International Bluegrass Hall of Fame, 10 Country Music Hall of Fame, 9 Gospel Music Hall of Fame, and 3 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees such as Jimmy Martin, Josh Graves, Chubby Wise, Mac Wiseman, Doug Dillard, Ralph Stanley, The Lewis Family, and numerous others. Popular in Southern gospel, bluegrass, country and Americana, his audience is 145 million worldwide.


Links to other Randall Franks Albums:
Click here to go to Randall Franks Music Page


Click here to go to Faith Will See Us Through - Randall Franks 2020 Hope Collection


Available to Listeners at:
https://www.randallfranks.com/randall-franks-sacred-sounds-of-appalachia/
Downloads:
http://www.nimbit.com/RandallFranks/

The Production

Original Radio Singles:
This World Is Not My Home, Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Sweet Hour of Prayer and Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Following the sales success of my first solo vocal release – Handshakes and Smiles and the attention it received in country, bluegrass and the Southern gospel genres, I wasn’t quite sure what would be the next recording project. After much prayer and encouragement, I decided to feature my fiddling and do another instrumental release. Radio stations had loved the instrumental releases from “Handshakes and Smiles” and had given amazing feedback. I had done three fiddle release before “Peach Picked Fiddle Favorites,” “Pick of the Peaches Fiddlin’” and “Golden River Fiddlin’,” but those had focused more on fiddle tunes and I wanted this one to reach beyond and touch a wider audience.

The focus of the project was to reflect my Appalachian heritage and the impact that the music of my faith had brought to my life. I reached back out to the musicians who had helped make “Handshakes and Smiles” successful and they graciously agreed to join me in the effort: Three-time Dove nominees Mark Wheeler (guitar) of the Marksmen Quartet; Steve “Rabbit” Easter (Dobro) of Jeff & Sheri Easter’s band; Gospel and Bluegrass Hall of Fame members Lewis Phillips (banjo) and Travis Lewis (bass) of the Lewis Family; Eugene Akers (mandolin), and I also added the talent of Bill Everett (guitar and mandolin) and Earle Wheeler (guitar).

We entered the studio in Atlanta at Bob and Babs Richardson’s Master Sound with engineer Jeff Tomei and in one day we created the organic feel of the songs selected as each musician invested their talents.

The only added element not done that day was Steve Easter’s dobro tracks which were included at Nashville’s Home Place studio just prior to the mixing by Ben Hall and me. I had spoken with a number of labels about the project prior to recording and it was Chris White’s Sonlite Records which released the project and helped us find success on radio around the world with the recordings my friends helped me create.


01) Uncloudy Day - Randall Franks (2:02)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1992 Sacred Sounds of Appalachia
Crimson

Musicians - The Peachtree Pickers:
Randall Franks: Fiddle, Mountain Dulcimer, Lead Guitar, Mandolin,Jaw Harp
Bill Everett: Acoustic Guitar & Mandolin
Earle Wheeler: Rhythm Guitar
Lewis Phillips: Banjo & Resonator Banjo
Travis Lewis: Acoustic Bass
Steve "Rabbit" Easter: Dobro

“It would be a few years before I would be asked to go to work with country music legend Willie Nelson as the host of a flagship show on a new country cable network. But it was a memorable performance by him of the song Uncloudy Day that inspired me to record the song.” Randall Franks


02) Beautiful Star of Bethlehem - Randall Franks (3:22)

Original Radio Single

Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1992 Sacred Sounds of Appalachia
Crimson

Musicians - The Peachtree Pickers:
Randall Franks: Fiddle, Mountain Dulcimer, Lead Guitar, Mandolin,Jaw Harp
Bill Everett: Acoustic Guitar
Mark Wheeler: Acoustic Guitar
Lewis Phillips: Banjo & Resonator Banjo
Travis Lewis: Acoustic Bass
Steve "Rabbit" Easter: Dobro

Randall Franks’s recording of “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” was so successful as a turntable radio hit, it even became a hit in countries such as Malaysia even yielding discussions about international tours in support of the music.

“A vital part of our families Christmas tradition was music and one of my favorite songs that rang in my soul was ‘Beautiful Star of Bethlehem’. The sound of Ralph Stanley held strongly in my memories and had an influence on much that I did.” .” Randall Franks


03) Leaning on the Everlasting Arms - Randall Franks (2:57)

Original Radio Single

Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1992 Sacred Sounds of Appalachia
Crimson

Musicians - The Peachtree Pickers:
Randall Franks: Fiddle, Mountain Dulcimer, Lead Guitar, Mandolin,Jaw Harp
Bill Everett: Acoustic Guitar & Mandolin
Mark Wheeler: Acoustic Guitar
Lewis Phillips: Banjo & Resonator Banjo
Travis Lewis: Acoustic Bass
Steve "Rabbit" Easter: Dobro

"Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" was written in Randall's home of Ringgold, Ga. A.J. Showalter had been sent the words and while visiting the Old Stone Church between services, he penned the music at the Magill Family home, and then performed it with the congregation in that evening service.

"This song is so much a part of our heritage. I have incorporated it in my performing in various forms. Giving it this classic feel touched so many of my friends and family back home." Randall Franks


04) Sweet Hour of Prayer - Randall Franks (2:32)

Original Radio Single

Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1992 Sacred Sounds of Appalachia
Crimson

Musicians - The Peachtree Pickers:
Randall Franks: Fiddle, Mountain Dulcimer, Lead Guitar, Mandolin,Jaw Harp
Bill Everett: Acoustic Guitar
Eugene Akers: Mandolin
Lewis Phillips: Banjo & Resonator Banjo
Travis Lewis: Acoustic Bass
Steve "Rabbit" Easter: Dobro

“Sweet Hour of Prayer” was a favorite of Randall’s late mother Pearl Franks.

“I once wrote a song including the impact that mother’s prayer had upon my life, this song was on that brought her solace. Prayer is a place where so many of my worldly troubles have been lifted from my soul and you can find that special place that prayer takes me within this melody.”’ Randall Franks


05) Will the Circle Be Unbroken - Randall Franks (1:59)


Songwriter/Arranger:
Publisher and PRO:
Release: 1992 Sacred Sounds of Appalachia
Crimson

Musicians - The Peachtree Pickers:
Randall Franks: Fiddle, Mountain Dulcimer, Lead Guitar, Mandolin,Jaw Harp
Bill Everett: Acoustic Guitar & Mandolin
Lewis Phillips: Banjo & Resonator Banjo
Travis Lewis: Acoustic Bass
Steve "Rabbit" Easter: Dobro

On one of the most endeared country music standard hymns, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” Randall shares his talents of guitar, mandolin and fiddle.

“As a youth, we had regular weekly jam sessions among my friends and our musical mentors, ‘Will the Circle Be Unbroken,’ was a mainstay of the selections of those gatherings. This recording pays homage to those experiences and the shared love of music community we had.” Randall Franks


06) Old Time Religion - Randall Franks (1:25)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1992 Sacred Sounds of Appalachia
Crimson

Musicians - The Peachtree Pickers:
Randall Franks: Fiddle, Mountain Dulcimer, Lead Guitar, Mandolin,Jaw Harp
Bill Everett: Acoustic Guitar & Mandolin
Lewis Phillips: Banjo & Resonator Banjo
Travis Lewis: Acoustic Bass
Steve "Rabbit" Easter: Dobro

Randall Franks shares the traditional song “Old Time Religion” which has had an impact on him since he first heard it as a child. His love of the film “Sergeant York” starring Gary Cooper would make the song part of his life and ultimately his shows.


07) Amazing Grace - Randall Franks (2:28)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1992 Sacred Sounds of Appalachia
Crimson

Musicians - The Peachtree Pickers:
Randall Franks: Fiddle, Mountain Dulcimer, Lead Guitar, Mandolin,Jaw Harp
Bill Everett: Acoustic Guitar
Eugene Akers: Mandolin
Lewis Phillips: Banjo & Resonator Banjo
Travis Lewis: Acoustic Bass
Steve "Rabbit" Easter: Dobro

Randall Franks gives a mountain feel to John Newton's classic hymn. It has become one of his most requested songs.

“Many have shared with me, they have used my recording as they celebrate the life of their loved ones.” Randall Franks


08) Kneel at the Cross - Randall Franks (2:20)

Original Radio Single

Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1992 Sacred Sounds of Appalachia
Crimson

Musicians - The Peachtree Pickers:
Randall Franks: Fiddle, Mountain Dulcimer, Lead Guitar, Mandolin,Jaw Harp
Bill Everett: Acoustic Guitar
Eugene Akers: Mandolin
Lewis Phillips: Banjo & Resonator Banjo
Travis Lewis: Acoustic Bass
Steve "Rabbit" Easter: Dobro

The impact of Grand Ole Opry stars Jim and Jesse McReynolds on the life and career of Randall Franks is exhibited in the inclusion of "Kneel at the Cross" and "This World Is Not My Home." One of his favorite childhood albums was their “Old Country Church.” These two songs were his favorites from that recording.


09) Just A Rose Will Do - Randall Franks (3:19)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1992 Sacred Sounds of Appalachia
Crimson

Musicians - The Peachtree Pickers:
Randall Franks: Fiddle, Mountain Dulcimer, Lead Guitar, Mandolin,Jaw Harp
Bill Everett: Acoustic Guitar & Mandolin
Mark Wheeler: Acoustic Guitar
Lewis Phillips: Banjo & Resonator Banjo
Travis Lewis: Acoustic Bass
Steve "Rabbit" Easter: Dobro

Gospel, Bluegrass and Southern Gospel Hall of Fame member Roy “Pop” Lewis was a great influence and friend on Randall Franks, his signature song was Just A Rose Will Do, so Randall included it in the recording. It is especially significant by including Roy’s grandchildren Lewis Phillips and Travis Lewis.


10) This World Is Not My Home - Randall Franks (2:49)

Original Radio Single

Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1992 Sacred Sounds of Appalachia
Crimson

Musicians - The Peachtree Pickers:
Randall Franks: Fiddle, Mountain Dulcimer, Lead Guitar, Mandolin,Jaw Harp
Bill Everett: Acoustic Guitar & Mandolin
Mark Wheeler: Acoustic Guitar
Lewis Phillips: Banjo & Resonator Banjo
Travis Lewis: Acoustic Bass
Steve "Rabbit" Easter: Dobro


Album Credits:
Originally Released in 1992 by Zion/Sonlite Records
Re-Released in 1998 by Crimson Records
Randall Franks: Producer
Jeff Tomei: Recording Engineer, Master Sound Studios, Atlanta, Ga.
Ben Hall: Recording (Dobro tracks) and Mixing Engineer, The Home Place, Nashville, Tenn.
McClearen Design Studios: Original Cover Design
Ron Stuckey: Randall Franks Photo
Ned D. Burris: Cover Photo of Memorabilia