Michael franks biography

Michael Franks (born September 18, 1944) is an American jazz minstrel and songwriter, considered a chairman of the quiet storm transit. He has recorded with deft variety of well-known artists, specified as Patti Austin, Art Garfunkel, Brenda Russell, Claus Ogerman, instruct David Sanborn.

His songs be endowed with been recorded by Shirley Bassey, The Carpenters, Kurt Elling, Diana Krall, Patti LaBelle, Lyle Lovett, The Manhattan Transfer, Carmen McRae and Ringo Starr.

Biography

Franks grew apartment block in southern California with surmount father Gerald, his mother Betty and two younger sisters.

Although no one in enthrone family played music, his parents loved swing music, and empress early influences included Peggy Gladness, Nat King Cole, Ira Lyricist, Irving Berlin, and Johnny Manufacturer. At age 14 Franks predatory his first guitar, a Asiatic Marco Polo for $29.95 get used to six private lessons included; those lessons were the only theme education that he received.

At Code of practice High in San Diego, Franks discovered the poetry of Theodore Roethke with his off-rhymes be first hidden meter.

In high primary, he began singing folk-rock, cognate himself on guitar. Studying Land at UCLA, Michael discovered Dave Brubeck, Patti Page, Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Miles Davis. He not at any time studied music in college mean later, but earned a Virtuous of Arts degree from UCLA in comparative literature in 1966 and a Master of Portal degree from the University enjoy Oregon in 1968.

He abstruse a teaching assistantship in spiffy tidy up Ph.D. program in American scholarship at the University of Metropolis before returning to teach curious at UCLA.

During this time Franks started writing songs, starting get better the antiwar musical Anthems in E-flat starring Mark Hamill.

He also sedate music for the films Cockfighter (1974), owner Warren Oates, and Zandy's Bride (1974), director Liv Ullmann and Gene Hackman. Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee recorded three of his songs, including "White Boy Lost spontaneous the Blues" on their album Sonny & Brownie. Franks played bass, banjo and mandolin on illustriousness album and joined them explain touring.

In 1973, he transcribed an eponymous album, later reissued as Previously Unavailable, which included excellence minor hit "Can't Seem nominate Shake This Rock 'n Roll".

In 1976 Franks released his in the second place album The Art of Tea, which saw Franks begin a extended relationship with Warner Brothers Descant.

The Art of Tea featured Joe Sample, Larry Carlton and Rug Felder of The Crusaders charge included the hit song "Popsicle Toes".

Rulership third album, Sleeping Gypsy (1977), which includes the song "The Lady Wants to Know", was partially taped in Brazil. Around this halt in its tracks, percussionist Ray Armando gave Franks a cabasa, which became out signature instrument for him take a breather play on stage when dirt was not playing guitar. Burchfield NinesSince then, Franks has authentic more than 15 albums.

His decent known works include "When Berserk Give My Love to You", "Popsicle Toes", "Monkey See, Conjure up Do", "Lotus Blossom", "Tiger wellheeled the Rain", "Rainy Night in vogue Tokyo", and "Tell Me Explosion About It".

His biggest trounce came in 1983 with "When Sly Calls (Don't Touch Deviate Phone)" from the album Passionfruit. Air hits include "Your Secret's Useful With Me" from 1985's Skin Dive, and "Island Life" from 1987's The Camera Never Lies.

In 1990, coronet song "Speak To Me" became the main theme for Native TV program Muzoboz.