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


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 Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame member shared a top country vocal collaboration with Grand Ole Opry stars The Whites. His talents 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

Randall Franks – Keep ‘Em Smilin’

"Keep 'Em Smilin'" is a live gospel and comedy CD featuring Randall Franks supported by former Stamps and Gold City Quartet pianist Curtis Broadway recorded at the Walker County Civic Center in Rock Spring, Ga.

Franks debuted the CD release in a special concert appearing with U.S. President and First Lady Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga.

https://www.facebook.com/RandallFranksKeepEmSmilin/

Available to Listeners at:
http://www.RandallFranks.com/store/
Downloads:
http://www.nimbit.com/RandallFranks/

Crimson Records
Release: 2016


01) Introduction - Tim Owens (:32)


Southern gospel singer Tim Owens of the Old Time Preachers Quartet introduces Randall Franks.


02) This Little Light of Mine (3:49)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2016 Keep 'Em Smilin'
Crimson

Musicians:
Fiddle: Randall Franks
Piano: Curtis Broadway

"'This Little Light of Mine' is a favorite performance song of mine that always helps to get the audience into the spirit of a show." Randall Franks

Featured Comedy Track

03) Chicken Addiction - Randall Franks (2:55)(Comedy)


Songwriter: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2016 Keep 'Em Smilin'
Crimson

Comedian: Randall Franks
Musician: Randall Franks

Chicken Addiction is a comedy story in the style of Jerry Clower, Grady Nutt, and Minnie Pearl from Randall Franks's live Christian music and comedy CD "Keep 'Em Smilin'" also including Stamps Quartet pianist Curtis Broadway.


04) What a Friend We Have in Jesus (1:37)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2016 Keep 'Em Smilin'
Crimson

Musicians:
Fiddle: Randall Franks
Piano: Curtis Broadway

"What A Friend We Have In Jesus" is the classic hymn from the CD "Keep 'Em Smilin'." The live gospel and comedy CD features Randall Franks supported by former Stamps and Gold City Quartet pianist Curtis Broadway recorded at the Walker County Civic Center in Rock Spring, Ga.

"What a Friend is one of my most requested instrumental hymns. I often performed it as a twin fiddle tune while traveling with the Bluegrass Hall of Famer Chubby Wise." Randall Franks


05) Fiddle Memories 2:34


Songwriter: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2016 Keep 'Em Smilin'
Crimson

Randall Franks shares his testimony about the impact God's gift of music and specifically the fiddle has upon his life and the walk he takes with God.


06) A Tunnel Runs Through It / Re-Enactment (1:15) (Comedy)


Songwriter: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2016 Keep 'Em Smilin'
Crimson

A Tunnel Runs Through It/Re-enactment is a mix of two comedy stories that share the story of a little Georgia town called Tunnel Hill, Georgia, an ancestral area for his family, in the style of Jerry Clower, Grady Nutt, and Minnie Pearl from Randall Franks's live Christian music and comedy CD "Keep 'Em Smilin'" also including Stamps Quartet pianist Curtis Broadway.


07) Amazing Grace - Randall Franks (3:57)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2016 Keep 'Em Smilin'
Crimson

Fiddle and Vocals: Randall Franks
Piano: Curtis Broadway

Randall Franks gives a mountain feel to John Newton's classic hymn from Randall Franks's live Christian music and comedy CD "Keep 'Em Smilin'" also including Stamps Quartet pianist Curtis Broadway.


08) Indigenous / Sgt. York - Randall Franks (2:42) (Comedy)


Songwriter: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2016 Keep 'Em Smilin'
Crimson

Comedian: Randall Franks
Musician: Curtis Broadway

"Indigenous/Sgt. York" is a mix of two comedy stories in the style of Jerry Clower, Grady Nutt, and Minnie Pearl from Randall Franks's live Christian music and comedy CD "Keep 'Em Smilin'." Stamps Quartet pianist Curtis Broadway joins him on the recording.

“These highlight a play on my Appalachian roots in connection to my dulcimer and my admiration of the amazing World War I American hero Sgt. Alvin C. York, who was a childhood hero of mine and remains so to this day.” Randall Franks


09) Old Time Religion - Randall Franks (2:22)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2016 Keep 'Em Smilin'
Crimson

Musicians
Appalachian Dulcimer and Vocals: Randall Franks
Piano: Curtis Broadway

Randall Franks shares the traditional song which has had an impact on him since he first heard it as a child. The recording is from Randall Franks's live Christian music and comedy CD "Keep 'Em Smilin'" also including Stamps Quartet pianist Curtis Broadway.


10) Cousin Viola and the Sanctified Grape Juice - Randall Franks (3:58) (Comedy)


Songwriter: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2016 Keep 'Em Smilin'
Crimson

Randall Franks: Comedian and Musician

Cousin Violet and the Sanctified Grape Juice is a comedy story in the style of Jerry Clower, Grady Nutt, and Minnie Pearl from Randall Franks's live Christian music and comedy CD "Keep 'Em Smilin'" also including Stamps Quartet pianist Curtis Broadway.

"As a youth, I often performed with Hall of Fame entertainer Wendy Bagwell. His telling of stories fueled my happiness. The best laughs come from true-life experiences, especially in the church,and there is no reason Christians shouldn't be smiling 90 plus percent of the time." Randall Franks


11) In the Garden - Randall Franks (4:06)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2016 Keep 'Em Smilin'
Crimson

Randall Franks: Vocalist and Fiddle
Curtis Broadway: Piano

In the Garden is Randall's most requested gospel music standard from his Christian music and comedy CD "Keep 'Em Smilin'" also including Stamps Quartet pianist Curtis Broadway.


All Titles:
Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Pub./BMI

Musicians: Randall Franks: Vocals, Comedy, Fiddle and Dulcimer
Curtis Broadway: Piano

Album Credits :
Photos: (Front) Teryl Jackson, (Back) Terry Pennington
Producer: Randall Franks
Engineers: Tim Owens and Randall Franks/b]: Tim Owens and Randall Franks