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Finding independence in music

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Music begins within each of our souls. If we are lucky, God bestows us the gifts to let it out.

Some sing, some play, some do both and their gifts bless their families, their church, their neighbors.

For many years now, the advent of the internet has broken down the hold gatekeepers had on reaching the mass audience. Now folks can sit in their living rooms with a camera, make music and people from around the world can find the, like them and buy their music.

Of course, the old fashion approach, town to town, church to church, club to club still helps build an audience too. Now, stars can come out of nowhere.

I was recently in attendance for an independent music awards called the 10th Annual Josie Music Awards.For 10 years, these have grown and expanded recognizing artists in country, Americana, bluegrass, folk, R & B, Rock and Roll, World Music and other forms. This was my second time to attend and both times I have taken it in as an artist who was nominated in categories in the awards. For me, it was Inspirational Vocalist and Musician of the Year – Fiddle. I have been so honored the last couple of years by their recognition of my musical efforts.

The Josie Awards are coordinated by Josie Passantino-Boone and Tinamarie Passantino. Beginning small it has grown to now be held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. Folks travel from all over the U.S. and Canada and even foreign countries to attend the events surrounding the awards.

When I started in country music, we had a grassroots system operated by fan clubs that allowed artists to grow their followings and climb the ladder in a way. That has been replaced by largely by social media and followers.

While attending I met artists from around the country, many who have been growing and building their careers for years and some just starting but they all were standing side-by-side as award nominees, dressed in their finest, posing for photos, interviewing with media trying to expand their audiences.

In this award show, new and seasoned artists saw long-time artists, multi-million sellers, many hits in varying genres come across the stage and be honored and also perform. This year, they joined Neil McCoy (Lifetime Achievement Award Winner), Tiffany (Icon Award Winner), and John McCuen (Musician Lifetime Achievement Award Winner), and Randy Edelman (Songwriter Legend Award Winner), Doug Stone was also a presenter as were some recent music stars created by American Idol and similar shows.

I was so impressed by the artists I saw walk across the stage. They came from many backgrounds and regions. Their looks, musical talents and fashion choices varied. Their acceptance speeches were heartwarming and a dominant overall theme was faith in God and the revelation that He bestowed their talents and salvation. It was so refreshing!

As I sat towards the back of the auditorium watching folks, I realized the hosts called my name from the stage, so I made my way to the stage, climbed up the stairs on stage and awaited the other winners in the Musician of the Year categories.

We then each got to walk center stage and stand on the Circle. A section of floor taken from the Ryman where the Grand Ole Opry called home for so many years. As a Grand Ole Opry guest star, I had stood there before, so the experience was not new to me, but still highly revered by me.

“Forty years ago, Bill Monroe brought me here as an artist,” I said.

I thanked some of the fiddlers who influenced me like Howdy Forrester and Kenny Baker, Tommy Jackson, Chubby Wise, and Paul Warren who inspired me to want to be better at fiddling. Also my early Georgia fiddling influences – my Great Uncle Tom Franks who learned from my Great Grandfather A.J. Harve Franks, Dr. Donald Grisier, Dallas Burrell, Gordon Tanner, Eugene Akers and so many others.

I thanked my late parents Pearl and Floyd Franks, and God above for the honor. I also attributes all that has come to my mentors Grand Ole Opry stars Jim & Jesse McReynolds.

All in all, I can probably sum up the sentiments of the winners and the nominees and their families and friends who attended. It was such wonderful night, everyone walking the red carpet, sharing interviews with media folks and meeting other music artists from around the world. New friends made, old friends renewed and our musical toils recognized.

For those interested in my work as 2024 Musician of the Year – Fiddle, my latest single is the fiddle-backed patriotic film monologue “The American’s Creed – Recitation” and brand new on Nov. 1 is the historical fiddle single “Cotton-Eyed Joe” performed live with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys raising funds for the Pearl and Floyd Franks Appalachian Music Scholarships. Both available on ITunes and Amazon.

Learn more about the Josie Music Awards at https://www.josiemusicawards.com/.

Bluegrass music comes together to honor its best

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The International Bluegrass Music Association hosted its annual week-long celebration of the genre in Raleigh recently.
Thousands poured into the city’s clubs, venues and hotels to see countless concerts by established artists such as David Davis and the Warrior River Boys of Alabama, hopefuls such as the Baker Family of Missouri, and Rebekah Long of Nashville, who desire to expand their career success into national and international strides.

I visited with Davis in his band’s booth (http://www.daviddavisandwrb.com/).
“It’s been an amazing week,” Davis said, who is riding high on the success of his latest Rounder release “Didn’t He Ramble : Songs of Charlie Poole.” “We have met with fans, event promoters, disc jockeys and all types of media folks. It’s like a musical family reunion with old friends and new ones.”

I ran across Trustin Baker, the 2018 Grand Master Fiddler Champion, in the hallway of the Marriott. He had traveled from Missouri to perform with his family (thebakerfamilybluegrass.com/).  He actually joined in a jam session playing a tune with my fiddle.
Rebekah Long told me she was having a great time at the event appearing on numerous showcases with her band with her producer Donna Ulisse in tow. Long’s recent CDs include “Run Away” and “Here I Am” (www.rebekahlong.com).
Awards were handed out highlighting the greatest successes of the past year. Some of the winners include: Balsam Range as  entertainer of the year; Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver as vocal group; The Travelin’ McCourys as instrumental group; Buddy Melton as male vocalist; Brooke Aldridge as female vocalist; Sierra Hull as mandolin player; Molly Tuttle as guitar player; Michael Cleveland as fiddle player; The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys as emerging artist; Becky Buller brought home gospel recorded performance with “Speakin’ to That Mountain;” “Swept Away” with Missy Raines, Alison Brown, Becky Buller, Hull and Tuttle won recorded event.

Hall of Fame inductees included Ricky Skaggs, Paul Williams and Tom T. and Dixie Hall.
I applaud these additions to the hall. All have contributed amazingly to the genre!

I was privileged to return to direct a portion of the awards welcoming multi-Grammy winner Jerry Douglas to host the Distinguished Achievement Awards and several special awards. The IBMA’s second highest honor went to Curtis McPeake, Walter Saunders, Chris Thile, Christopher Howard-Williams, and George Gruhn. My old friend Jerry Salley was awarded as bluegrass songwriter of the year.

Learn more about the music and the organization at ibma.org.

Ringgold’s Randall Franks achieves Certificate of Excellence and attends Leadership Institute

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Ringgold Councilmember Randall Franks receives awards from GMA Municipal Training Board Chairman Norma Tucker, and Associate Director of the Carl Vinson Institute Stacy Jones

Ringgold Councilmember Randall Franks received the prestigious Certificate of Excellence from the Harold F. Holtz Municipal Training Institute at the Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) 83rd Annual Convention in Savannah on June 27.

He was also recognized for completing the annual Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute.

“A key component of elected service is seeking out opportunities to improve what we already do for our residents and our visitors,” Franks said. “Learning what is done in other cities around our state as well as the most effective and appropriate ways to conduct our business help each of us to be good stewards and offer a better vision for the future of our community.”

The Georgia Municipal Training Institute, a cooperative effort of GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, provides a nationally recognized series of training opportunities for elected city officials. To receive a Certificate of Excellence, a city official must complete a minimum of 120 units of credit, including at least 54 hours from the required list and the Robert E. Knox, Jr. Municipal Leadership Institute. The training program consists of a series of more than 50 courses.

The multi-day Leadership Institute, co-sponsored by GMA and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government, featured a nationally recognized training development consultant and speaker. Participants also engaged in role-playing exercises designed to cultivate and enhance leadership skills.

 “This is an outstanding achievement,” said GMA Executive Director Lamar Norton. “We commend Councilmember Franks for this accomplishment and for the dedication he’s shown in using this valuable resource to become a more effective city official.

 “The Leadership Institute is an outstanding program and widely acknowledged as one of the best of its type in the country,” Norton said. “We highly recommend it to any city official who wants to be a more effective community leader.”

Franks is Ringgold’s former vice mayor and currently serves as Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program Chairman. He was initially elected in 2009 and served Catoosa County and Ringgold as public information officer and volunteer coordinator during the 2011-12 tornado response and recovery efforts. He is former vice chairman of the Ringgold Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Based in Atlanta, GMA is a voluntary, non-profit organization that provides legislative advocacy, research, training, employee benefit and technical consulting services to its over 520 member cities.