Randall Franks scored a #1 hit on Cashbox Magazine’s Bluegrass Gospel chart with “God’s Children,” featuring Jamboree alumnus the Watkins Family in 2023 from his “Faith Will See Us Through” album.

Four members of the Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree shone at the Josie Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House. Randall Franks received three years of nominations for Male Vocalist of the Year (Inspirational, Americana/Folk) and Musician of the Year (Fiddle), including a 2024 Musician of the Year win.  In 2025, three other members were nominated for Musician of the Year: Dawson Wright (Banjo), Ryan Stinson (Piano), and Caleb Lewis (Guitar). Many members of the Jamboree often appear on Randall’s Appalachian Sounds TV Show. All are featured on his “The American’s Creed” album.

As a leading figure in 1990s bluegrass, Franks presented the Male Vocalist of the Year award to Del McCoury in 1992 and hosted the 1995 SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards. Alongside Alison Krauss, he emerged as one of the era’s most prominent fiddling personalities.

Franks’ successes continued with hits like the Top Country Vocal Collaboration “Let’s Live Every Day Like It Was Christmas“ (featuring Grand Ole Opry stars The Whites) and two bluegrass Top-30 albums: “Sacred Sounds of Appalachia“ (1992) and “Tunes and Tales from Tunnel Hill“ (1995).

Among country music’s storied shows, the Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree achieved a record audience of over 30,000 at a 1999 South Carolina event. Franks has performed annually at major venues, including the Country Music Association’s Fan Fair, top bluegrass festivals, the National Folk Festival, Georgia Mountain Fair, Academy of Country Music Fan Fest, the Grand Ole Opry, and even a command presidential performance.

Star-Studded Packages and Collaborations

Leveraging his Hollywood connections, Franks created two dynamic talent packages:

• Road Show for Fairs and Festivals: Featuring Randall Franks alongside Donna Douglas (“Elly Mae” from The Beverly Hillbillies) and Sonny Shroyer (“Enos” from The Dukes of Hazzard), this package delivered nostalgic, crowd-pleasing entertainment perfect for live events and was booked by the Joe Taylor Agency in Nashville. Shroyer would later record “Children in Need” with Franks and David Davis and other members of the Jamboree for the 2000 album “God’s Children.”
• Television Promotion Trio: Starring Franks, Shroyer, and Dan Biggers (“Doc Robb” from In the Heat of the Night), this group offered versatile commercial endorsements tailored to local TV markets.

Franks expanded the show by incorporating a rotating roster of talented musical artists, forming the core of his appearances at fairs, festivals, and stage productions. In the early 1990s, the Jamboree gained national visibility through TV spots, Grand Ole Opry package shows, and SHARE with DARE concerts, sharing stages with icons like Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys, The Lewis Family, The Osborne Brothers, and Mac Wiseman. Jim & Jesse provided consistent backing for Franks for the Opry, in recordings, and on tour, with Franks also guesting on The Jim & Jesse Show.

An early addition in 1991 was the talents of bluegrass stars David Davis and the Warrior River Boys whose ensemble carried the bluegrass banner high on the variety show. By 1993, Franks enlisted the popular bluegrass band The Sand Mountain Boys (led by Alabama Master Musician Gary Waldrep) for live performances and his 1995 album “Tunes and Tales from Tunnel Hill“. The Marksmen Quartet handled gospel segments, while steel and resonator guitarist Barney Miller became a mainstay. Even “Doc” Tommy Scott made special appearances and Franks returned the favor with Scott’s Last Real Old Time Medicine Show. Scott recorded two albums with Franks and members of the Jamboree including “Comedy Down Home” and “God’s Children.” Over the past 35 years, the show has featured an impressive array of artists, including:

• Ryan Robertson
• Roger Hammett
• Gary Waldrep
• Bill Everett
• Barney Miller
• Gilbert Hancock
• James Watson
• Sue and Kim Koskela
• Danny Bell
• David Davis and the Warrior River Boys
• The Dowden Sisters
• Ryan Stinson
• The Watkins Family
• Butch Lanham
• Wesley Crider
• Brian Blaylock
• Marty Hays
• Jaden Maxwell
• Todd Watkins
• Colton Brown
• Caleb Lewis
• Dawson Wright
• And many more!