Derrel Franks

Music:

Member Since: 3/11/2008
Band Members: Derrel Franks Tillman B. Franks Jr Eddie Ray Franks
Influences: Tillman B. Franks Sr. , Johnny Horton, Claude King, David Houston , Rev. Billy Franks. My biggest influence in country was my Uncle, Tillman Franks, Sr. I definitely feel like he should be in the Country Music Hall of Fame. No other manager/promoter has taken so many different singers to No. 1 on the Billboard Charts. He managed Hank Williams, Sr., Johnny Horton, David Houston, Claude King, Webb Pierce, and was instumental in the careers of many of the performers on the Louisiana Hayride and the Grand Ole Opry. He relates a lot of his expierences in a book he wrote "Tillman Franks, I Was There When It Happened". I was the last pupil that Uncle Tillman taught to play the guitar. He spent countless hours in his living room teaching me the guitar and coaching me in singing. Always telling me how good I was doing no matter how bad I sounded. Later on he played stand up bass with his son, Tillman (Ben) Franks, Jr., me, my brother, Murray Franks, and my cousin, Eddie Ray Franks. We had different friends that set in and played with us so we called ourselves "The Franks Family and Friends". Uncle Tillman and Murray have passed on but me, Tillman, Jr., and Eddie Ray will keep their memories alive with their music. My influence in gospel Music is my father, Rev. Billy Franks, and my mother(deceased), Lottie Franks. daddy was a Gospel radio D.J. for over 20 years and knew all the big name quartets. Mother lead singing at church and sang in a ladies Gospel quartet, the Harmonetts. I’m not the one singing on "Sad Songs and Cold Beer". I had that demo cut in Nashville. I am singing on the two country/gospel songs, My cousin Ben played rythum and lead guitar and produced the songs. Uncle Tillman is playing Bass on both songs. If I never do anything with these songs I’ll have them to listen to and hear the great bass licks that Uncle Tillman put on these songs. It was always great to watch him play, he put everything into his performance. Here’s to you Uncle Tillman. Thanks for giving me the gift of music. Every time I play the guitar or sing I think of you.
Sounds Like: sounds like me.
Record Label: Unsigned