As we draw nearer to the 250th anniversary of American independence, I find myself reflecting on the ancestors who answered the call to arms, ordinary frontiersmen who became heroes in the fight to free the colonies from British rule. My fifth-great-grandfather, Charles Kilgore, was one of five Scotch-Irish brothers who heeded the Revolution’s summons. Born […]
The fiddle has an amazing history in the American experience. It first crossed the Atlantic with European settlers, where violins played the music of both upper classes and common folk, uplifting and entertaining through hard times. Whether in a seated concert with a string quartet or kicking up heels at a cotillion or barn dance, […]
Above: Nominees Randall Franks (right) and Dale Houston (center) with Winner Lee Newton NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The 11th Annual Josie Music Awards took place on November 2, 2025, at the iconic Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, celebrating independent artists from around the world. Among the standout nominees were Ringgold, Georgia-based vocalist and fiddler Randall Franks, […]
How we determine if we are successful in life and careers is often marked by milestones and markers that indicate where we are and how well we’ve done our jobs. We strive for them throughout our lives. I often pull out a suitcase that contains bits and pieces from my late father’s life. We filled […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Oftentimes in life, we concentrate our efforts on paying the next bill, dealing with a loved one’s problems, or chasing the next goal. I recently saw a meme of a man in three stages of life pursuing money flying through the air: In the first, he has none; in the second, an armful; and in […]
One of the standout banjo players at Chattanooga’s 2025 IBMA World of Bluegrass was Gena Britt, a founding member of the powerhouse band Sister Sadie. With a stellar solo reputation spanning over 30 years, this acclaimed picker—nominated again for IBMA Banjo Player of the Year—has teamed up with Mountain Home Music Company for her first […]
