Biography

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Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle

2020 AirPlay Direct Evolution Grant Recipient

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

Randall Franks – Mountain Opry Memories

The Mountain Opry

The Mountain Opry in the town of Walden, Tennessee on Signal Mountain has welcomed musicians from across the South since the late 1970s every Friday night.

“The Mountain Opry is free and held each Friday night inside a 1920s auditorium that has found entertainers from around the country appearing on the stage that has been the focus of a long-running radio show and several television specials.” Randall Franks

The venue lovingly created for the music emanating from the Southern Appalachians is a free venue where musicians donate their talents for the enjoyment of all.

“We work to provide a place for folks to gather from all around the world and hear the authentic singers and musicians of our region perform and jam,” said Ken Holloway, Mountain Opry president.

“This venue was a favorite place of respite for my late mother Pearl Franks. Though we spent our life performing in venues around the country, this one was like home for her. So, when she wished to visit, I performed welcoming the support of whichever talented musicians were willing to assist. I first appeared there in the 1980s with The Marksmen Quartet." Randall Franks

Tennessee Connections

Franks’s Tennessee roots are deeply steeped in families that helped create the state and carve settlements out of the wilderness throughout the East Tennessee mountain region and beyond. Nashville became the center of his music career while guest starring for the Grand Ole Opry, appearing at 20 CMA Fan Fairs, hosting shows at the Ryman Auditorium and touring throughout the United States.

In his grandmother's home of Rhea County, Tennessee, residents honored his career with an exhibit alongside Grand Ole Opry star Curly Fox in its Courthouse Museum in Dayton.

“As I grew as a musician, there were many Tennessee performers who helped to foster my talents allowing me to make appearances across the state including competing to become Fiddle Champion of Cumberland County, my grandfather's home county.” Randall Franks

Many of his experiences with other performers are featured in the three volumes of his "Encouragers" book series. He also featured his families experiences of Tennessee Appalachian life in "A Mountain Pearl: Appalachian Reminiscing and Recipes."

The Producers

This project, a fundraiser for the Share America Foundation and its Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship and the Mountain Opry, was co-produced by Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks.

Adkins met Randall Franks as a youth in Georgia at Stone Mountain’s Yellow Daisy Festival. He is a pioneering Tennessee Valley multi-instrumentalist. Among the groups he performed with are Lock Stock and Barrel, Down Yonder, Bill Lowery and the Lookout Valley Boys, Maynard Renfro and the Hymn Time Gang, Weldon Turner and his Turnovers and the Tennessee Hy-Ryders. He was a regular for many years appearing with various acts at the Mountain Opry. Adkins often shared encouragement with him and backed Randall at fiddle contests throughout the region.

“Music is a wonderful part of my life,” Adkins said. “I wanted to do this in remembrance of my late wife Faye who also shared a love of music that she supported me in enjoying. Once Tom and Randall became involved, the project became much more than I could have imagined as Randall added songs from many performances creating a unique listening experience.”

Pioneer bluegrass musician, luthier, and educator, Tom Morgan was born in Morgan Springs, Tennessee. While based in the D.C. area, Tom performed with bluegrass legends Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, The Country Gentlemen, Red Allen & Frank Wakefield, Bernarr Buzz Busby, Bill Harrell, Mike Seeger, Hazel Dickens, and Alice Gerrard.

Morgan worked with and inspired other now-legendary musicians such as David Grisman, Bill Keith, and the Seldom Scene.

Back in Tennessee, he continued his work as a luthier and continued to perform in a family bluegrass band that included his beloved wife, Mary and their two sons.

In 1977, Tom added legendary fiddler, Curly Fox, to his band. This was the period that Morgan became an encourager and influence in Randall’s musical life.

“While the music is off the cuff, it represents the synergy between performers sharing their talents for an audience with all the fun and magic of our musical heritage in a way that reflects such a wonderful legacy,” Morgan said.

The Project

Though the recording spans live appearances over 11 years, following an introduction by Holloway, Franks opens with the upbeat “Fire on the Mountain.” He then seamlessly navigates the audience through a variety of comedic comments and stories such as “A Tunnel Runs Through It,” country and western standards including “Send Me the Pillow,” “Red River Valley,” “Crawdad Song,” “Ya’ll Come,” and songs unique to his career like the “Sparta Impound Blues.”

He welcomes special guest David Davis for a live gospel duet “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and joins the late country pioneer Charlie “Peanut” Faircloth and a country band for “The Kind of Love I Can’t Forget.”

In the tradition of the Southern Appalachian fiddle bands - Tom Adkins and Franks both fiddle on tunes including “Boil Dem Cabbage Down,” “Faded Love,” and “Turkey in the Straw” and Adkins plays behind Franks as he sings “The Old Black Fiddle.”

In keeping with his focus on encouraging youth, Franks, who serves as president of the Share America Foundation, is joined by the Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band including four Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholars for the bluegrass standard “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.”

Franks closes his show with the support of members of the Valley Grass who appear on many of the cuts by performing “Orange Blossom Special.”

Listeners may donate to receive a copy at:
http://www.ShareAmericaFoundation.com/gifts/


01) Introduction and I'm Not Bubba – Ken Holloway and Randall Franks (1:24)


Mountain Opry President Ken Holloway introduces Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle Randall Franks and he opens his show with a short comedy piece entitled "I'm Not Bubba."

Songwriter: Randall Franks
Publisher and PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI


02) Fire on the Mountain – 1999


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Fiddle: Randall Franks
Valley Grass
Mandolin: Brian Blaylock
Banjo: Stacy Wilcox
Guitar: Terry Hatfield
Bass: Randy Pryor

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks

"Fire on the Mountain" is one of the earliest fiddle tunes that Randall Franks learned. He has used it as bluegrass show opener throughout.

"Early in my learning process, many fiddlers contributed through their recordings, this is one that became a mixture of influence from Fiddlin' John Carson, Clayton McMichen, Curly Fox, Scotty Stoneman and Benny Martin." Randall Franks


03) Send Me the Pillow – 1999


Songwriter/Arranger: Hank Locklin
Publisher & PRO: Big Pillow Music/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Fiddle and Vocals: Randall Franks
Valley Grass
Mandolin: Brian Blaylock
Banjo: Stacy Wilcox
Guitar: Terry Hatfield
Bass: Randy Pryor

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks

"When I first began performing as a guest for the Grand Ole Opry, one of the members who shared encouragement was Hank Locklin, I always loved to hear him sing his song, so I added to my shows in his honor." Randall Franks


04) A Tunnel Runs Through It – Randall Franks - 2001 (1:25)


Songwriter/Arranger:Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Guitar: Ken Holloway

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Martin Fisher of MTSU

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


05) Crawdad Song – Randall Franks - 2003 (3:32)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Fiddle: Randall Franks
Banjo: Jimmy Givens
Guitar: Ken Holloway
Bass: Merielle Flood

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks

"One of my earliest influences was the Dillards appearing on the American TV "The Andy Griffith Show" as the Darlings. The 'Crawdad Song' was one that stuck with me and many of the audiences that I perform for and it is one they love to sing along with me as I share it." Randall Franks


06) Swing Low, Sweet Chariot with David Davis – 2001 (2:34)

Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks and David Davis
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Guitar and Vocals: Randall Franks
Mandolin and Vocals: David Davis

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks

Randall Franks and David Davis perform a song live from their duet CD "God's Children" at the Mountain Opry.


07) Boil Dem Cabbage Down – 2001


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Fiddle: Randall Franks
Fiddle: Tom Adkins
Guitar: Ken Holloway
Bass: John De Grote

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Martin Fisher of MTSU


08) Sparta Impound Blues – Randall Franks - 1999 (1:45)


Songwriter/Arranger: Carroll O'Connor and Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Guitar and Vocals: Randall Franks
Valley Grass
Mandolin: Brian Blaylock
Banjo: Stacy Wilcox
Guitar: Terry Hatfield
Bass: Randy Pryor

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks

The "Sparta Impound Blues" is a song performed by Randall Franks from the TV series "In the Heat of the Night."


09) Old Black Fiddle – Randall Franks - 2003


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Guitar: Randall Franks
Fiddle: Tom Adkins


Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks


10) Sweet Woman Blues – Randall Franks - 1999 (1:58)


Songwriter/Arranger: Tommy Lee Scott
Publisher & PRO: Katona Publishing Co./ASCAP
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Guitar and Vocals: Randall Franks
Valley Grass
Mandolin: Brian Blaylock
Banjo: Stacy Wilcox
Guitar: Terry Hatfield
Bass: Randy Pryor

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks

Randall Franks was the last celebrity co-star of Ramblin' "Doc" Tommy Scott's Last Real Old Time Medicine Show which operated from 1890 until his death in 2013.

"The life and music of Tommy Scott and mine will always be intertwined. Having his music in my shows will always be part of the legacy I carry. "Sweet Woman Blues" reaches right out of the 1930s into today and the words still have a place in the relationships of our world." Randall Franks


11) Faded Love – Randall Franks - 2001 (3:49)


Songwriter/Arranger: Bob Wills
Publisher & PRO: Chappell & Co. ASCAP
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Fiddle: Randall Franks
Fiddle: Tom Adkins
Guitar: Ken Holloway
Bass: John De Grote

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Martin Fisher of MTSU


12) Red River Valley – Randall Franks - 2003 (4:11)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Fiddle and Vocals: Randall Franks
Banjo: Jimmy Givens
Guitar and Vocals: Ken Holloway
Bass: Merielle Flood


Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks


13) The Kind of Love I Can’t Forget – Randall Franks with Peanut Faircloth – 2001 (3:08)

Songwriter/Arranger: Unknown
Publisher & PRO: Unknown
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Harmonica: Charlie "Peanut" Faircloth
Fiddle: Randall Franks
Guitar: Charles Chambers
Guitar: Joe Chambers
Guitar: Rocky Ramsey
Bass: Gary Denham

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks

Charlie "Peanut" Faircloth (1927-2010) became an encourager to Randall Franks while performing and serving as Master of Ceremonies on the bluegrass circuit. He also introduced his early recordings to his radio audiences.

Faircloth is a singer, musician and radio personality, recorded for Decca in the 1950s with songs “I’ll Sail My Ship Alone,” “Mississippi River Blues” and “Coffee, Cigarettes and Tears.” He had his own Mutual Radio Network show "The Hoedown Party" in 1948-49.

He performed in a trio with Country Music Hall of Famers Boudleaux & Felice Bryant. He gave Grammy-winning folk guitarist Norman Blake a job in his band, and Multiple music Hall of Famer Brenda Lee credits him with launching her towards stardom by orchestrating early radio exposure and securing her job on The Ozark Jubilee with Red Foley.

"It was so much fun to surprise Peanut for this special celebration of his life hosted at the Mountain Opry. He sings a song he learned from Clyde Moody" Randall Franks


14) Turkey in the Straw – Randall Franks - 2001 (1:39)


Songwriter/Arranger: Randall Franks
Publisher & PRO: Peach Picked Publishing/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Fiddle: Randall Franks
Fiddle: Tom Adkins
Guitar: Ken Holloway
Bass: John De Grote

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Martin Fisher from MTSU


15) Foggy Mountain Breakdown - Randall Franks with Mountain Cove Bluegrass – 2010 (5:20)


Songwriter/Arranger: Earl Scruggs
Publisher & PRO: APRS & Scruggs Music Inc./BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians: Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band
Banjo: Cody Harvey
Fiddle: Wil Markham
Guitar: Colin Mabry
Guitar: Austin Adkins
Mandolin and Harmonica: Tyler Martelli
Bass: Mike Holloway


Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks


16) Ya’ll Come – Randall Franks - 1999


Songwriter/Arranger: Arlie Duff
Publisher & PRO: Fort Knox Music Inc.-Carlin America/BMI
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Fiddle and Vocals: Randall Franks
Valley Grass
Mandolin: Brian Blaylock
Banjo: Stacy Wilcox
Guitar: Terry Hatfield
Bass: Randy Pryor

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks


17) Orange Blossom Special – Randall Franks - 1999 (4:01)


Songwriter/Arranger: Ervin T. Rouse
Publisher & PRO: Universal Music Corp./ASCAP
Release: 2013 Mountain Opry Memories SAF-102
Share America Foundation with Crimson Records

Musicians:
Fiddle and Vocals: Randall Franks
Valley Grass
Mandolin: Brian Blaylock
Banjo: Stacy Wilcox
Guitar: Terry Hatfield
Bass: Randy Pryor

Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineer: Randall Franks

Randall Franks performs the tune that inspired his career as a musician, the "Orange Blossom Special."

"This tune changed my life as did all the fiddlers who shared it with me. The doors that opened in my life all opened because I picked up the fiddle. So, it was God's gift to me." Randall Franks

Visit our Facebook Page: fb.me/RandallFranksMountainOpryMemories

Randall Franks - Mountain Opry Memories
Album Credits:
Producers: Tom Adkins, Tom Morgan and Randall Franks
Engineers: Martin Fisher of MTSU (2001 Recordings) and Randall Franks
Photos: Musicians: Brother Andrew Thorne, Building: Randall Franks
Share America Foundation in association with Crimson Records SAF-102
Release: 8/6/2013