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Actor and Fiddler Randall Franks, ‘In the Heat of the Night’ co-star, Inducted into Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame

November 1, 2025 in /by

Entertainer Randall Franks (center) receives his induction plaque into the Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame from co-executive directors LaDonna Ray (left) and Shirley Maule at the Seaplane Opry House in Moultrie, Ga. (Photo: Randall Franks Media) Moultrie, Ga. – October 28, 2025 – The Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame inducted entertainer, actor, and fiddler Randall Franks—known […]

Track: The Dog Who Listened

October 29, 2025 in /by

I stepped out the back door and plopped down on the top step. Our back stoop had just three concrete steps leading down to the sidewalk, which ran along the rear of the house to the gate. There, my faithful, hairy companion Track arrived and rested his head in my lap. He was a cross […]

Appalachian Fiddler Randall Franks joins The Moonlit Road.com for a new podcast celebrating it’s 28th Anniversary

October 28, 2025 in /by

Randall Franks (second from left) reviews his musical enhancements in the studio with director Craig Dominey (left) and audio engineer Henry Howard. (Randall Franks Media) Appalachian entertainer/actor Randall Franks, JMA Musician of the Year – Fiddle, adds his original musical accompaniment to a new episode of the heralded folklore podcast The Moonlit Road. “Storytelling and fiddling has long gone […]

Make the Most of Today

October 22, 2025 in /by

Life is a stage, and as we play our parts, we face the sudden and lingering exits of those we hold dear. The first loss we experience is often a relative, sometimes a friend. As a young child, I was deeply affected by the death of my Great-Uncle Jadie Harris, though I don’t recall the […]

Chattanooga’s Bluegrass Bonanza: IBMA’s 2025 Triumph

September 24, 2025 in /by

Chattanooga, Tennessee, transformed into Bluegrass Central, the ultimate destination for pickers, stars, and fans. The city buzzed with the ring of banjos and a sawing of fiddles as the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) brought its World of Bluegrass to its new home at the Chattanooga Convention Center for a five-day celebration. Unless they were […]

Lessons from a Lost Pocketknife

September 17, 2025 in /by

When I was a small boy, like many up-and-coming business folks, my parents sought a getaway near the city—a haven from the hustle and bustle, but not too far for quick trips filled with camping, fishing, and swimming. For my older brother and me, this sounded wonderful. He’d already experienced more rustic life on the […]

Treasures of Forgotten Lives

September 10, 2025 in /by

The musty scent of old books, vinyl records, and mothballed clothes greets you at an estate sale, where the remnants of someone’s life spill across makeshift tables, counters, and shelves. Clothes, tools, knickknacks, furniture, jewelry, even leftover cleaning products and unused hardware—each item whispers a story. I’ve spent many pleasant afternoons rummaging through these sales, […]

Share America Foundation Names Wyatt Ellis as 2025 David Davis – Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Recipient

September 3, 2025 in /by

The Share America Foundation, Inc. proudly announces 16-year-old singer and mandolinist Wyatt Ellis of East Tennessee as the 2025 recipient of the David Davis – Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship, honoring students who excel in Appalachian musical arts. This scholarship commemorates bluegrass legend David Davis, mandolinist and leader of the Warrior River Boys for 40 […]