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 - Tunes and Tales from Tunnel Hill

Top-35

Best Bluegrass Album 1995

NARAS

"...interesting songs and some fine fiddling. The Sand Mountain Boys were an excellent choice to assist Randall. Gary Waldrep's banjo crackles with fire throughout. The 'tales' are very funny...'Black Eyed Suzy' is a foot stomping fiddle tune."

Top-20

Country Collaboration with Vocals 1995

Randall Franks and the Sand Mountain Boys song "I'm Walkin'" was included among recordings by Alan Jackson, Suzy Bogguss, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Reba McIntire, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Shenandoah and Vince Gill among the year's leading collaborations.

While touring and promoting this project Randall Franks was featured in numerous publications some including Bluegrass Unlimited, Country Weekly, Country Gazette (Netherlands, American Country, IFCO Clubhouse, and The Nashville Musician.


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


Fans may order at
Click here to order a Tunes and Tales CD
Downloads:
http://www.nimbit.com/RandallFranks/

The Production

After finishing his five years on NBC's "In the Heat of the Night," Randall Franks wanted to create a traditional bluegrass CD in the vein of Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, The Dillards, Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Roy Acuff, and Jim and Jesse.
He also wanted to share some of the comedy stories he'd been telling on the road reflecting the story telling of Jerry Clower, Minnie Pearl, and Doodle Thrower.
His hard work paid off, Randall Franks was at the height of his bluegrass music career in the mid-1990s and he was asked to host the Bluegrass Music Awards in Nashville in 1995, which he did. His CD "Tunes & Tales from Tunnel Hill" was included among the top 25 Bluegrass CDs of 1995.
To bring the solid bluegrass sound behind his hard-driving fiddlin', he chose The Sand Mountain Boys, who were at the time burning up the festival circuit. The band included Alabama Music Master Gary Waldrep, Wayne Crain, of the legendary Crain Brothers, and his son Jerry Crain, and Kenny Townsel.
Randall produced the music session at Baker Sound Studios in Cullman, Ala. while the comedy was recorded live at Pennington Gap, Va.
For the project he borrowed a historic costume for its cover from Little Roy Lewis of The Lewis Family, Gospel and Bluegrass hall of famers. It was worn by Georgia Music Hall of Fame member Cotton Carrier and after Randall put it to use, it was on display at the Hall of Fame from 1996 to 2012.

Feature Bluegrass Performance

01) Black-Eyed Suzy - Randall Franks (1:40)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher - PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo and Vocals: Gary Waldrep
Guitar and Vocals: Wayne Crain
Lead Guitar: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain

"The late Paul Warren, who fiddled with Flatt & Scruggs, was one of my fiddlin' heroes. I always loved hearing him do this number. I tried for years to get a cut which reflected the enthusiasm and excitement which electrified my youthful love of fiddlin'...with this recording, I've gotten closer than I ever I imagined I could." Randall Franks

Feature Comedy Performance

09) Uncle Elige's Send Off - Randall Franks (3:01) (Comedy)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher - PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Comedy: Randall Franks
Mandolin: Gary Waldrep
Guitar: Wayne Crain

Randall Franks shares a comedy story about his Great Uncle Elige's Send Off.


02) A Tunnel Runs Through It - Randall Franks (1:32) (Comedy)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher - PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Comedy and Mountain Dulcimer: Randall Franks

Randall Franks shares some comedy about one of his ancestral homes - Tunnel Hill, Ga.


03) Come Go with Me - Randall Franks (02:36)


Songwriter/Arranger: Marty Robbins
Publisher - PRO: Mariposa Music/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo: Gary Waldrep
Guitar: Wayne Crain
Mandolin: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain

"As a youth one of my favorite times was to quietly turn on my transistor radio and try to hear the Grand Ole Opry and the closing segment featuring Marty Robbins. His vocal artistry and the endless fun he shared with the audience while going long rather than giving the broadcast to the Ernest Tubb Record Shop Midnight Jamboree was always a wonderful memory. This song reminds me of his talents reflected in a Bill Monroe style."
Randall Franks

International Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Legend Randall Franks, member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys and the Jim & Jesse Show, performs a song "Come Go with Me." Franks's performance was inspired by Bill Monroe's recording.


04) Little Girl of Mine from Tennessee - Randall Franks


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher - PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo and Vocals: Gary Waldrep
Guitar and Vocals: Wayne Crain
Lead Guitar: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain


05) Homecoming - Randall Franks (1:40) (Comedy)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher - PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Comedy: Randall Franks
Clawhammer Banjo: Gary Waldrep

Randall Franks shares a comedy story about church homecomings.


06) The Way Is in God's Hands - Randall Franks (2:04)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks and Mark Wheeler
Publisher - PRO: Chris White Music/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo and Vocals: Gary Waldrep
Guitar and Vocals: Wayne Crain
Lead Guitar: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain

Randall Franks worked with three-time Dove Award nominee Mark Wheeler wrote this song in honor of his mother Pearl Franks.


07) In the Garden - Randall Franks


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher - PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson


Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo and Vocals: Gary Waldrep
Guitar and Vocals: Wayne Crain
Lead Guitar: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain


08) Now I Know - Randall Franks with Gary Waldrep (02:25)


Songwriter: Randall Franks
Publisher - PRO: Chestnut Mound Music/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo and Vocals: Gary Waldrep
Guitar and Vocals: Wayne Crain
Lead Guitar: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain


Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle Randall Franks, member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys and the Jim & Jesse Show, performs his original song recorded by The Marksmen Quartet in 1985. Franks's performance was inspired by Ralph Stanley.

"I penned this song while I was traveling nationally with the Marksmen Quartet in the mid 1980s reflecting the place one is when they find Jesus for the first time, and how it changes how you look at the world. The Marksmen recorded it and it became a turntable hit for them off the album. It was such a blessing. In this version I pay homage to one of my bluegrass heroes and friends - Ralph Stanley with this arrangement." Randall Franks


10) Please Don't Ever Take Your Love from Me - Randall Franks (2:50)


Songwriter/Arranger: Jesse McReynolds
Publisher - PRO: Carfax Publishing/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo, Fiddle and Vocals: Gary Waldrep
Guitar and Vocals: Wayne Crain
Lead Guitar: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain

Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys musical influence will ever be present in the performances of Randall Franks. "Please Don't Ever Take Your Love From Me" is a song from their catalog that he included in this collection.

"There would not be a Randall Franks as an artist if it were not for Jim & Jesse. They opened the doors for me to excel and grow in Nashville like no one else, giving me a platform and supporting me throughout my career." Randall Franks


11) I'm Walkin' - Randall Franks (2:02)


Songwriter/Arranger: Fats Domino & Dave Barthlomew
Publisher - PRO: EMI Unart Catalog Inc./BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo and Vocals: Gary Waldrep
Guitar and Vocals: Wayne Crain
Lead Guitar: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain

In most of his stage performances, Randall Franks pulls a popular song from his favorite era of Rock and Roll and gives it his unique approach. He chose Fats Domino's "I'm Walkin'" for a bluegrass treatment.

"I love the Rock and Roll created in the first 8-10 years of the genre. To me, it reflects the genius of innovation as the music moved in a new direction. Fat Domino, Chuck Berry, and Jerry Lee Lewis songs are some of the most interesting." Randall Franks


12) Filling the River with Tears - Randall Franks (3:02)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher - PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo and Vocals: Gary Waldrep
Guitar and Vocals: Wayne Crain
Lead Guitar: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain

Randall Franks performs his bluegrass lament over love lost "Filling the River with Tears." After hearing this recording bluegrass artist David Davis and the Warrior River Boys recorded it popularizing the song across the genre.


13) Big Tige, Mr. Roy and Me - Randall Franks (4:36)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher - PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo and Vocals: Gary Waldrep
Guitar and Vocals: Wayne Crain
Lead Guitar: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain

Randall Franks shares a comedy story about a boyhood experience with a couple of country music's legendary fiddlers - Roy Acuff and Benny Martin. Randall performed this piece live as he hosted the 1995 Bluegrass Music Awards in Nashville at the Roy Acuff Theater. He had the legendary artists of bluegrass rolling in the aisles as he shared the story.

"While you may not think so, some of the funniest stories come from real experiences. I could never have imagined spending this time with a couple of heroes as boy, but it gave us a connective experience, none of us ever forgot. Thankfully, I was able to record this before Big Tige left us and he got a real kick out of it. I am sure Mr. Roy would have too." Randall Franks


14) Night Train to Memphis - Randall Franks (2:10)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher - PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 1995
Crimson

Fiddle and Lead Vocal: Randall Franks
Band - The Sand Mountain Boys:
Banjo and Vocals: Gary Waldrep
Guitar and Vocals: Wayne Crain
Lead Guitar: Kenny Townsel
Bass: Jerry Crain

The King of Country Music Roy Acuff had a tremendous impact on the musical life of Randall Franks. He recorded Night Train to Memphis in honor of the legendary performer who had influenced and encouraged his life and music.

"On one of my early trips to the Grand Ole Opry as a spectator, we were back stage and I was standing watching the show. I noticed that my father stepped into the backstage area and I started his way, then I noticed someone else headed right for him. It was Roy Acuff. I stopped and watched Roy greet him like and old friend, they talked for a while and then Roy went on his way. Before that I didn't know my dad knew Roy. But that friendship would be passed along to me and Mr. Roy, though not performing, came in to watch my first appearance for the Grand Ole Opry and supported me throughout the remainder of his years." Randall Franks