Paul Franklin (musician)

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Paul Franklin
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresCountry, rock
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)
Years active1970s–present
Member ofThe Time Jumpers

Paul V. Franklin (born May 31, 1954

Nashville, playing on more than 500 albums.[2][3] He has been named by the Academy of Country Music as Best Steel Guitarist on several occasions.[2] He was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2000[4] and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019. With thirty, Franklin is the most nominated person in CMA history and is notable for having been nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Musician of the Year twenty nine times but has yet to win.[5]

In addition to the pedal steel guitar and lap steel guitar, Franklin plays Dobro, fiddle, and drums,[2] as well as three custom-built instruments called the Pedabro, The Box, and the baritone steel guitar. Since 2016 Franklin has been offering online steel guitar lessons.[6][7]

Musical innovations

He is noted for bringing multiple musical innovations to the country music scene.[3] One of these, the Pedabro, is a type of Dobro fitted with pedals and played like a pedal steel guitar. This was invented by Franklin's father. The first of many hit records featuring the Pedabro was "Forever and Ever, Amen" by Randy Travis.[8]

Franklin has also created two new variations of steel guitars, the first of which is a type of lap steel guitar nicknamed "The Box", whose sound has been described as a "swampy acoustic guitar".[3] The other type of guitar that he invented is the baritone steel guitar, the strings of which are tuned an octave lower than a traditional pedal steel guitar.[3]

Collaborations

He played steel guitar on the 1972 top-five hit "Nice to Be with You" by Gallery.

Franklin has worked with many well known acts during his career, including

Franklin is a member of The Time Jumpers, a country and western swing band. In July 2013, he and Vince Gill released a collaborative album called Bakersfield.[9]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart
positions
US Country US
Bakersfield (with Vince Gill) 4 25
Sweet Memories (with Vince Gill) - -

References

  1. ^ U.S. Public Records Index Vol 1 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010.
  2. ^
    Allmusic
    . Retrieved January 29, 2008.
  3. ^
    About.com
    . Retrieved January 29, 2008.
  4. ^ Scott, DeWitt. "The Steel Guitar Hall of Fame/". scottysmusic.com. The Steel Guitar Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  5. ^ "Paul Franklin's Been Nominated for CMAs 30 Times. He's Never Won". September 29, 2022.
  6. ^ "June 2018 – Truetone". Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  7. ^ "Texas Steel Guitar Association". texassteelguitar.org. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Paul Franklin biography". Paul Franklin.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2008.
  9. ^ "Vince Gill Reveals Cover Art, Track Listing + Release Date for New Album With Paul Franklin". Theboot.com. June 5, 2013. Retrieved August 6, 2013.

External links