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)
Randall Franks plays “Orange Blossom Special” at the Seaplane Opry House in Moultrie.
Moultrie, Ga. – October 28, 2025 – The Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame inducted entertainer, actor, and fiddler Randall Franks—known as “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night”—during its recent ceremonies at the Seaplane Opry House. Co-executive directors LaDonna Ray and Shirley Maule presented Franks with the honor, celebrating his legacy in country, bluegrass, and gospel music.
“It was a pleasure to induct Randall Franks into our Music Hall of Fame,” said LaDonna Ray, co-executive director. “His music, songwriting, and amazing contributions are a stellar addition to our honorees.”
Franks thrilled the audience with a high-energy fiddle rendition of “Orange Blossom Special” and joined fellow bluegrass inductee, vocalist/guitarist Dan Daniel, on stage.
Hall of Fame honorees Randall Franks and Dan Daniel pose with their awards.
“This recognition comes thanks to God, the artists who’ve given me a hand up, my fellow musicians who supported me, behind-the-scenes professionals, my parents, and especially the fans who’ve bought tickets, merchandise, and tuned in,” Franks said. “Your support means everything!”
Fellow Georgian, “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “Enos” star Sonny Shroyer congratulated his longtime friend shortly after the presentation by phone, Franks said. Shroyer was part of Franks’ country variety show, The Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree, now marking its 80th anniversary and recorded the song “Children In Need” with him.
The Hall also awarded Franks for his patriotic, country, bluegrass, and gospel songwriting. Some of his titles are patriotic tunes such as “The American’s Creed” and “Cascade;” country songs such as “I Know ‘Cause I’ve Been There,” “What About All These American Flags” and “You Can’t Stop Time;” to bluegrass gems such as “You Can’t Stop Time,” “The Old Black Fiddle,” “Filling the River with Tears,” and “Midnight Train;” plus gospel favorites including “God’s Children,” “Now I Know,” “Someone Greater Than I,” “Must Be A Reason,” “You Better Get Ready,” and “He’s Never Gonna Fool Me Again.” Among his co-writers are talents like Alan Autry, Cotton Carrier, Wesley Crider, John Farley, Noah Gordon, Dottie Moore, Carroll O’Connor, Ramblin’ Tommy Scott, and Mark Wheeler.
Founded by Shirley Maule, the Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame honors Georgia artists whose careers have touched lives in Georgia, Northern Florida, and beyond.
https://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.png00Randall Frankshttps://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.pngRandall Franks2025-11-01 06:00:272025-11-05 12:18:32Actor and Fiddler Randall Franks, ‘In the Heat of the Night’ co-star, Inducted into Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame
Randall Franks (left) and Marty Hays (right) present Wyatt Ellis with his David Davis – Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship certificate at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville, near Nashville. (Photo: Teresa Ellis/Share America Foundation)
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.
The late Bluegrass star David Davis is remembered with a scholarship.
This scholarship commemorates bluegrass legend David Davis, mandolinist and leader of the Warrior River Boys for 40 years, who passed away in September 2024.
Ellis, a former student of Davis, first met him at age 12 during Monroe Mandolin Camp. “David was an incredible High Lonesome singer with such passion,” Ellis recalled. “He saw my love for singing and playing mandolin and took pride in nurturing it. I hope to honor his legacy by carrying forward that same passion.”
“I wish you great success,” she said. “David would be so proud of how you’re carrying on with what he shared with you.”
Marty Hays, a 30-year veteran of the Warrior River Boys, presented the award alongside Randall Franks, representing the band’s support.
“David shared the traditional sounds of Bill Monroe and others with his unique style,” Hays said. “It brings joy to my heart to see a musician of Wyatt’s age, singing Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley songs on the Grand Ole Opry.”
Ellis, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Bluegrass chart with his album Happy Valley, featuring instrumentals written at age 11. A 2025 IBMA New Artist of the Year nominee, he began performing at the Grand Ole Opry at 13 and now leads the IBMA Momentum Award-nominated Wyatt Ellis Band. His latest single, “Country Boy Rock and Roll,” is finding wide appeal, and he is featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit.
Ellis will receive the scholarship funds upon enrolling in college. He and his band will appear at the Jerusalem Ridge Bluegrass Festival in Rosine, Ky. On Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 on an evening when the festival will also share a memorial tribute to David Davis. For more information, visit https://jerusalemridgefestival.com/.
Davis and his troupe toured with Randall Franks’ country variety show, now in its 80th year – The Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree, beginning in the 1990s.
“Wyatt’s talent is inspiring youth and adults to embrace traditional bluegrass,” said Randall Franks, Share America Foundation board member. “My late parents, Pearl and Floyd Franks, for whom this scholarship is also named, would be proud of how Wyatt is expanding the reach of Appalachian music.”
The scholarship is funded through donations, grants from organizations like the Kiwanis Club of Fort Oglethorpe and the Wes and Shirley Smith Charitable Endowment, special events, and projects like the Share America Foundation’s #1 Global Americana CD, Americana Youth of Southern Appalachia, available for donation at ShareAmericaFoundation.org, Amazon, and iTunes, and the upcoming A Zippedy Doodle Day: American Folk Songs.
Follow Share America Foundation, Wyatt Ellis, and Randall Franks on Facebook and other social media platforms.
About David Davis
David Davis, a mandolinist and vocalist, was a key figure in preserving the stylings of Bill Monroe and Appalachian roots music. Leading the Warrior River Boys since the 1980s, he earned acclaim through Rounder, Time Life, Wango, and Rebel recordings, including Didn’t He Ramble: Songs of Charlie Poole. A 2010 Alabama Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame inductee and 2014 National Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame honoree, Davis mentored countless musicians through performances and workshops.
About Wyatt Ellis
Wyatt Ellis, 16, is a rising bluegrass star from East Tennessee. A singer, mandolinist, and multi-instrumentalist, his debut album Happy Valley topped Billboard’s Bluegrass chart. A 2025 IBMA New Artist of the Year nominee, Ellis performs with his Wyatt Ellis Band and has appeared at the Grand Ole Opry and in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents exhibit. Learn more at https://WyattEllis.com.
About Randall Franks
Multiple music hall of fame inductee and Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Legend Randall Franks, known as “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s In the Heat of the Night, is an actor, musician, author, and Share America Foundation board member. A former collaborator with David Davis through both the Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree and the Warrior River Boys, Franks is dedicated to preserving Appalachian music traditions. He currently hosts the TV show Appalachian Sounds. Visit RandallFranks.com for more information.
About Share America Foundation, Inc.
The Share America Foundation, Inc., based in Northwest Georgia, supports the preservation of Appalachian music through scholarships, events, and projects. Pearl and Floyd Franks are the late parents and former entertainment managers of Randall Franks. Its board includes Franks, Chairman Gary Knowles, Vice Chairman John Brinsfield, Secretary James Pelt, and Vice President Jerry Robinson, Sr. Learn more at ShareAmericaFoundation.org.
https://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.png00Randall Frankshttps://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.pngRandall Franks2025-09-03 10:00:532025-09-02 22:41:44Share America Foundation Names Wyatt Ellis as 2025 David Davis – Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship Recipient
As I glanced up from the worn linoleum floor, the air thrummed with the pulse of strings. Three fiddlers, two guitarists, and a banjo player surrounded me in their ladder back chairs, their notes weaving a spell that held me captive. I was a young fiddler then, hanging on every phrase from Gordon Tanner, Paul Jordan, and Dallas Burrell, desperate to steal a lick or two to spark my own playing.
In my North Georgia hills, these men were more than musicians—they were torchbearers of a fiddle tradition that helped birth hillbilly music, a sound that echoed from porch swings to the world’s stages. Gordon Tanner’s legacy loomed largest. As a teenager in 1934, he recorded the million-selling “Down Yonder” with his father, Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers, a band whose raw, joyful energy defined early country music. Their records, cut in makeshift studios and broadcast through crackling radios, carried Georgia’s red clay soul to listeners far beyond the Appalachians. Gordon’s Gold Record was proof of their reach, a testament to a family that turned fiddles into time machines.
The Skillet Lickers and Paul Puckett add their historic flair with Randall Franks
Last week, I stepped into that history, recording with Gordon’s son, Phil, and grandson, Russ, alongside Paul Puckett in Dacula, Georgia—the Skillet Lickers’ hometown. Our studio was no polished soundstage but the Tanners’ old chicken house, transformed into a shrine of musical heritage. Faded photographs, yellowed posters, and framed 78s lined the walls, each artifact whispering of Tanner legends and others like Fiddlin’ John Carson, Riley Puckett, Clayton McMichen, Lowe Stokes, and Anita Sorrells Mathis. These pioneers dominated Georgia’s music scene in the early 20th century, their bow strokes and guitar runs shaping a sound that flowed through my mentors into my own fingers, like a river carving its path through time.
Though the Skillet Lickers’ commercial peak faded by mid-century, their music never dimmed. It lived on in the hollers and hamlets of the South—at raucous fiddle contests, folk and bluegrass festivals, weathered pickin’ barns, and late-night living room jams where players swapped tunes until dawn.
As a boy, I’d sit cross-legged at these gatherings, my fiddle resting on my knee, watching weathered hands coax magic from strings. Those moments forged my love for the music, passed down not through sheet music but through calloused fingers and shared stories, generation to generation.
Recording in that chicken house felt like stepping into a dream. As Phil, Russ, Paul and I traded notes, our music became a bridge across decades, blending the Skillet Lickers’ fire with a band I fiddled for, Doodle and the Golden River Grass. We were laying tracks for “A Zippedy Doodle Day,” a charity album to fund Appalachian music scholarships, uniting Georgia’s first fiddle band with its last. Each pluck and bow stroke was a brushstroke on a rhythmic canvas, painting a sound we hope will resonate for years, just as the Skillet Lickers’ records still stir my soul. The Tanners’ keepsakes—framed record sleeves, a worn fiddles, a concert poster —surrounded us, grounding our work in their legacy. I thought of my younger self, a boy mesmerized by flying bows and rosin dust swirling in the air, dreaming of touching the magic of my heroes. Now, here I was, not just chasing their sound but adding my own notes to their story. It’s a humbling honor, one that carries a responsibility to keep this music alive for the next generation.
The Skillet Lickers’ spirit reminds us that music is more than sound—it’s a living thread, connecting past to present, heart to heart. Our project aims to ensure that thread endures, supporting young musicians who’ll carry the fiddle’s voice forward. In that chicken house, we weren’t just recording; we were keeping a promise to the music that raised us and the people who inspired us. Learn more about the Skillet Lickers at www.SkilletLickers.org. For a preview of our charity project, visit www.RandallFranks.com/A-Zippedy-Doodle-Day.
For centuries, dedicated men and women have toiled to cultivate crops that sustain life, their labor enriched by nature’s gifts—fish from clear streams, game from dense forests, and wild greens, fruits, nuts, and berries. Fertile land, the backbone of survival, has always been a prize.
Before America’s founding, monarchs granted such land to loyal allies or passed it through noble families, with workers bound to the soil under new lords. Other systems existed, but control over prime land and water often defined power.
Today, that legacy lingers in the sprawling farms we pass on country roads. Driving through America’s heartland recently, I marveled at miles of farmland once alive with rows of corn, beans, tomatoes, okra, and squash, where cattle grazed and chickens scratched the earth. Now, many fields lie quiet, cut for hay or reduced to small gardens near farmhouses. Economic pressures—rising costs, market demands—have pushed families to grow just enough for themselves, no longer feeding neighbors or distant markets. Corporate farms churn out much of what stocks grocery shelves, their scale dwarfing the efforts of traditional farmers. Yet, resilient family farmers endure, raising cattle or crops with grit, their produce often fresher and more wholesome than heavily processed alternatives.
These farms pull me back to childhood summers, when fields burst with life. I can feel the heft of a tote sack as I tugged corn from the stalk, tassels dancing in the breeze, or sliced okra pods with my pocketknife, their prickly skins filling the bag.
Harvest days meant trudging through tomato rows, filling boxes with sun-warmed fruit. At noon, we’d gather under a sprawling oak, spreading tablecloths on the grass. A sharp knife sliced fresh tomatoes, tucked between white bread with salt, pepper, and JFG mayonnaise—a meal so simple, yet rich with the land’s goodness.
By then, our family’s farming was shifting from market crops to self-sufficiency, but I still recall the sweat-soaked days of working for market, each task lightened by shared laughter.
I don’t miss the backbreaking labor, the relentless sun, or the heat. What I crave is the closeness of toiling alongside loved ones, our bond with each other and the land making every effort worthwhile.
May your home—your own patch of earth—yield enough to sustain your family. If it doesn’t, plant a small garden, visit a farmers’ market, or learn where your food comes from. Rediscover the joy of nurturing the land and the community it feeds.
https://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Southern-Style-e1731470363325.jpg500358Randall Frankshttps://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.pngRandall Franks2025-07-16 06:00:122025-07-16 17:08:46Tilling the Past: Longing for the Land and Loved Ones
Doodle and the Golden River Grass Georgia Music Hall of Fame Exhibit in 2003. (Photo: Peach Picked Publishing)
A Zippedy Doodle Day: An Appalachian Musical Legacy
Welcome to A Zippedy Doodle Day: An Appalachian Musical Legacy, a historic string band album and documentary, led by Randall Franks, who honors Doodle Thrower and the Golden River Grass. Additionally, funds support scholarships via the Share America Foundation and Appalachian historical preservation. Therefore, join us in this effort!
About the Project
Project Overview
Bluegrass and Americana artist/producer Randall Franks is spearheading A Zippedy Doodle Day, a historic string band album and documentary to support Appalachian music scholarships through the Share America Foundation, Inc. and the West Georgia Museum in Tallapoosa, Georgia, the hometown of John “Doodle” Thrower.
Legacy Preservation
The project builds on unreleased tracks from the late 1980s by Doodle and the Golden River Grass, featuring traditional folk recordings. This album, paired with a re-release of the band’s entire catalog, aims to preserve and share their legacy while raising funds for aspiring musicians.
“When we lost Doodle Thrower, we lost one of the cornerstones of original country music. He and his band were truly what country music is all about.” — Marty Stuart, Country Music Hall of Famer
Doodle and the Golden River Grass in the 1970s
Doodle and the Golden River Grass
Formed in 1963 as a square dance band in Tallapoosa, Georgia, Doodle and the Golden River Grass became a beloved folk act, known for their comedy, Appalachian folk songs, and upbeat tunes. Recognized as the last of the old-time Georgia fiddle bands, they were a unique part of country music history.
The band featured John “Doodle” Thrower (1929-1994) on harmonica, alongside fiddlers Seals Hicks, Bill Kee, Paul Wallace, Randall Franks, and Jerry Wesley. From the 1970s, James Watson (1935-2017) added clawhammer banjo, with long-running members including C.J. Clackum (guitar), Wesley Clackum (guitar and mandolin), the late Lynn Elliott (guitar), the late Gene Daniell (bass/sound engineer), and Steve Hesterlee (three-finger banjo).
Doodle and the Golden River Grass perform in 1990.
Cultural historian Alan Lomax described Thrower as “a little bit different from anyone we’ve met. He’s of Cornish descent, and he’s not uptight at all,” and the band as “a sort of five-piece Dixieland string band certainly as virtuosic as any gypsy orchestra. And they are playing what I’ve called ‘mountain music in overdrive’.”
Appalachian scholar Loyal Jones acknowledged Thrower in his work Country Music Humorists and Comedians. American folklorist, educator and artist Art Rosenbaum featured him in his visual art and documented the group in several recorded mediums.
A Collaborative Effort
Randall Franks (right) joins The Skillet Lickers (Phil & Russ Tanner), center, and Paul Puckett in the studio.
Randall Franks is inviting specific artists from country, bluegrass, and Americana to donate their time to record on these historic tracks, collaborating with studios near the artists for convenience.
Contributors
Bruce Boxleitner adds his voice bringing a western flair to the project.
Western icon Bruce Boxleitner, a National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Hall of Great Western Performers inductee and two-time Wrangler Award winner, is saddling up for A Zippedy Doodle Day! Bruce captivated audiences as Luke Macahan in How the West Was Won alongside James Arness to his iconic turn as Alan Bradley/Tron in Disney’s groundbreaking Tron and Tron: Legacy, Bruce has been a household name for decades. He’s battled spies as Lee Stetson in Scarecrow and Mrs. King, commanded the stars as Captain John Sheridan in Babylon 5, and brought comic charm as Billy Montana in The Gambler with Kenny Rogers. Recently, he starred as Ben Watkins in the western Far Haven (2023), proving he’s still a trailblazer.
Banjo star Gena Britt adds her talents at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville.
8-time IBMA Award winner Gena Britt – powerhouse banjo player, vocalist, and founding member of GRAMMY-nominated Sister Sadie (Mountain Home Music Company) – has joined the star-studded lineup.
Fresh off the release of her acclaimed new solo album Streets, Rivers, Dreams & Heartaches (Mountain Home Music Company), her latest accolade includes sharing the 2025 IBMA Instrumental Recording of the Year for “Ralph’s Banjo Special” with Kristin Scott Benson & Alison Brown.
Youth Dante Flores adds three-finger banjo at the Tempermill in Michigan.
Marty Hays, a veteran vocalist and bassist who shined on Rounder and Rebel Records over three decades with David Davis and the Warrior River Boys brings his soulful sound to the project enriching this folk endeavor.
Marty Hays adds vocals at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville near Nashville.
Anthony Howell goes full speed with a bit of banjo at Noxubee Hills Music Group Recording Studio in Mississippi.
As the 2023 National Banjo Champion Anthony Howell and a four-time IBMA Momentum Award nominee for Instrumentalist of the Year, Anthony brings his unique stylings on banjo and come vocals to this Appalachian musical legacy project. He has performed with notable bands including Williamson Branch, the Edgar Loudermilk Band, and most recently joined Seth Mulder & Midnight Run. Follow Anthony for more updates on his music journey at www.facebook.com/p/Anthony-Howell-Music-100048065487181/.
Dale Houston add his vocal stylings at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville
Trevor Holder adds his rolls at Witt Studio in Lafayette.
Banjo virtuoso Trevor Holder joins the stellar lineup. With Trevor’s Reno-style flair and bluegrass chops from The Price Sisters, Cutter & Cash and The Kentucky Grass, and Five Mile Mountain Road, this album and documentary are set to preserve timeless folk tunes like never before. Bluegrass Unlimited heralded him in 2025 as a “Modern Banjo Master” underscoring his rising prominence in the genre.
Country singer Dale Houston heartfelt vocals and traditional country style add a touch of timeless Americana to this collection of folk classics. Fresh off his 2024 album “That’s The Way I Am,” featuring standout tracks and recent nominations for awards like the Josie Music Awards, Dale continues to honor the roots of country music. He has collaborated with country artists such as Lee Newton on “Burning Boats” and David Frizzell on “Lefty, Merle, and Me,” and grew up immersed in the music of legends like Merle Haggard, Vern Gosdin, George Jones, and Conway Twitty. Discover more about Dale at his website: www.dalehouston.com
Jim Lauderdale and Randall Franks work in the studio adding his unique vocals to the project.
Adding his amazing vocal talents, two-time Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Jim Lauderdale, host of the Americana Music Awards, has penned hits for icons like George Strait, Patty Loveless, and Vince Gill and was recently inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His illustrious career spans over 30 studio albums since 1986, blending country, bluegrass, Americana, soul, and R&B including his latest “Country Super Hits Vol. 2.” Visit his official website: https://www.jimlauderdalemusic.com/
Alex Miller records at Buck’s Place Recording near Nashville.
Traditional country singer Alex Miller, Billy Jam Records artist, who skyrocketed to fame on American Idol in 2021 at just 17, brings his soulful voice and masterful guitar pickin’ to the album. With hits like “I’m Over You, So Get Over Me,” “She Makes Dirt Look Good,” and his recent songs “Oh Odessa,” “Secondhand Smoke,” and “My Appalachian Home.” Alex has proven he’s a force in traditional country.
At Buck’s Place Recording, Robert Montgomery frails his way in A Zippedy Doodle Day.
The 2004 Old-Time Banjo National Champion Robert Montgomery is renowned for his excellent singing and banjo playing, performing with groups like David Davis & the Warrior River Boys and Alan Sibley & The Magnolia Ramblers. His latest release is Ol’ Times Not Forgotten. He joins other top artists to support Appalachian music scholarships and historical preservation. Follow Robert on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robertmontgomerymusic .
Kody Norris makes his vocal and musical additions at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville.
Fresh off dominating the awards circuit — including 2024 SPBGMA Entertainer of the Year, 7 total SPBGMA wins, 2025 IBMA Music Video of the Year for “The Auctioneer,” Kody’s personal Guitar Performer of the Year honors, and guest starring appearances on the iconic Grand Ole Opry stage — Rebel Records artist Kody Norris of The Kody Norris Show brings his powerhouse vocals and blistering guitar picking to this collaboration is pure mountain magic in the making! His 2025 album Highfalutin Hillbilly and current single ‘Waitress, Waitress’ — continue to shine in traditional bluegrass!
Ronnie & Justin Reno record at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville.
Bluegrass legend Ronnie Reno, 2016 SPBGMA Preservation Hall of Greats, and his talented son Justin Reno add their authentic Appalachian vibes to our whimsical journey. The son of Don Reno, from Ronnie’s early days performing on The Old Dominion Barndance at age seven to collaborating with giants like Merle Haggard, The Osborne Brothers, and his hit TV show Reno’s Old Time Music (now streaming on Country Road TV), the 2013 IBMA Broadcaster of the Year’s legacy is woven into the heart of American roots music. Joining him is Justin Reno, a gifted guitarist who’s been stepping into the spotlight alongside his dad and with other Nashville bands.
Mike Scott adds his licks at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville near Nashville.
Legendary banjo stylist Mike Scott brings his unmistakable hard-driving three-finger style and vocals to the project, bringing a 50+ year career of entertaining in every state in the US except Hawaii and 54 countries, 450 Grand Ole Opry performances, and playing with Jim & Jesse McReynolds, Carl Story, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Rhonda Vincent and more.
Opry Star Ketch Secor records for A Zippedy Doodle Day with Morgan Jahnig at Hartland Studios, Nashville, TN.
Grammy-winning Grand Ole Opry star Ketch Secor from the Old Crow Medicine Show brought his flair to a special performance alongside the Skillet Lickers with Paul Puckett! Secor penned the iconic hit “Wagon Wheel” and in 2025, he released his solo album ‘Story the Crow Told Me.’ He is currently hosting the PBS series “Tennessee Crossroads.”
The project includes contributions from the Skillet Lickers (Phil and Russ Tanner) and Paul Puckett, blending the legacies of Georgia’s first and last fiddle bands. Learn more at https://SkilletLickers.org/
Ralph Stanley II adds his artistry for engineer Jim Price at Hat Creek Recording – Jonesborough, TN.
Grammy-winning Ralph Stanley II, an acclaimed Appalachian performer from Virginia also enriches the project with his artistry. Learn more at https://ralph2.com/
Larry Stephenson, a five-time SPBGMA Contemporary Male Vocalist of the Year, Virginia Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, and acclaimed mandolin virtuoso adds his voice to the songbook. Learn more at https://larrystephensonband.com/LSB/
Bluegrass stalwart Larry Stephenson tunes up before adding his special touch at Buck’s Place Recording in Hendersonville.
Derek Stone brings an enthusiastic traditional style at Witt Studio in Lafayette.
Youth banjo stylist Derek Stone, 15, adds his approach to the album bringing a Reno style approach to one of the tunes. Derek has racked up impressive wins, including First Place Beginning Banjo, Third Place Adult Banjo (twice), and Third Place in the Bluegrass Band Competition at the Smithville Fiddler’s Jamboree, plus First Place in the Kids’ Band Competition at the Mountain City Fiddler’s Convention. Currently in 10th grade at McCallie School, he’s the banjo player for Carl Towns & Upward Road.
With Conner Vlietstra‘s fiddle, guitar, and banjo expertise from The Price Sisters, Five Mile Mountain Road, and The Tennessee Hillbuddies,helps preserve timeless folk tunes like never before. The ETSU graduate is a 2021 Grand Master Fiddle Traditional Champion whohas built a reputation for his technical skill and deep roots in Appalachian traditions. Follow Conner on Instagram @connerbullwheatstraw
Conner Vlietstra creates hot licks for A Zippedy Doodle Day at Tim Witt’s Studio in LaFayette.
Other artists working on their additions include Mary Rachel Nalley-Norris, celebrated as Entertainer of the Year and Instrumental Group of the Year wins with The Kody Norris Show, Dale Ann Bradley, a six-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year and two-time Grammy nominee, and #1 Billboard teen mandolin phenom Wyatt Ellis.
A diverse array of talented artists is lined up, each bringing additional richness and depth to the A Zippedy Doodle Day project. Some among those planning to join the effort are Tim Atwood, Dom Flemons, Noah Goebel, Daniel Grindstaff, Trevor Holder, Lee Newton, Marty Raybon, Alan Sibley, Margie Singleton, Smith & Wesley, and Mark Wheeler.
The Songs
We will share details of these classic folk songs as each is completed. Stay tuned for updates on this growing American Songbook contribution!
The FIRST SINGLE RELEASE IS COMING APRIL 10 on AirPlay Direct for Radio and for consumers on Amazon and Itunes. Stay Tuned ….
Support the Project
Your support can bring A Zippedy Doodle Day to life, preserving Appalachian music and empowering musicians through scholarships. Donate to the Share America Foundation, Inc.
Use this QR Code to Donate!
We are working on a CD, DVD, and digital releases. Stay tuned for updates on t-shirts and other merchandise!
You may also send tax-deductible donations via mail to Share America Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.
The Documentary
A Zippedy Doodle Day : An Appalachian Musical Legacy
Randall Franks, C.J. Clackum and Wesley Clackum film interviews.
Director Randall Franks began collecting interviews for “A Zippedy Doodle Day” documentary in 2017 when he recorded audio from banjo stylist James Watson. It was at this point the surviving band members developed the idea of an anthology of their music for charity. Shortly thereafter, he began video interviews to accompany this release. Among those collected so far are band members Wesley Clackum, C.J. Clackum, Steve Hesterlee and promoter Chuck Langley.
Others who worked with or saw the band are being sought. Some album participants are also contributing significant memories. The University of Georgia Special Collections Library is working with him to include Doodle and the Golden River Grass materials from the Georgia Folklore Collection archive collected by Art Rosenbaum and other historians. The National Council of Traditional Arts and The American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress assists with materials from their archives.
James Watson and Randall Franks in 2017 in Roanoke, Ala.
Randall Franks and 1970s GRG Member Steve Hesterlee
Armuchee Bluegrass Festival Founder Chuck Langley and Randall Franks
Supporting the Future of Music
Proceeds from A Zippedy Doodle Day will benefit the Share America Foundation, Inc., founded by Randall Franks in 2006, and the West Georgia Museum. These organizations preserve Appalachian legacy and support young musicians through scholarships.
Join us in celebrating this rich musical heritage and introducing a new generation to Doodle and the Golden River Grass!
Tim Witt Studio, LaFayette, Georgia; Buck Jarrell, Buck’s Place Recording – Hendersonville, Tenn.; Engineer Jim Price, Hat Creek Recording – Jonesborough, TN; Morgan Jahnig at Hartland Studios, Nashville, TN; Engineer Erik Maluchnik at Michigan’s The Tempermill;
When available to radio in 2026 you will find us on
More Doodling
Tallapoosa dedicates its Amphitheater honoring Doodle with his widow Ezell and members of the Golden River Grass present in 1999.
International Bluegrass Music Museum Legend and America’s Old Time Country Music Hall of Famer Randall Franks , hosts a documentary “Road to Nashville” taped live in Nashville in 2015. Franks returned to his Grand Ole Opry roots on its radio home of Nashville’s WSM to share an appearance on The Allnighter with Marcia Campbell. / marciacampbellradio . Franks brought several Share America Scholars to Nashville to tour TV and music businesses and organizations, meet with executives, music legends and learn more about the industry they wish to share their talents within. Among those seen in this video are Grand Ole Opry star Jesse McReynolds (www.jimandjesse.com) and the late Country Music Hall of Famer Mac Wiseman. This performance including Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band of Chattanooga, Tenn. – Cody Harvey, Chris Brown, Eli Beard and Tyler Martelli features several songs including a 2006 bluegrass hit written by Franks and popularized by David Davis and the Warrior River Boys. Mountain Cove has fostered four Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholars, named for Franks’s late parents, receiving support from the Share America Foundation, Inc. while pursuing their college degrees.(www.mtncovebluegrass.com)
The show also features Share America Scholar Pianist Ryan Stinson of Ringgold, Ga. is a Share America Scholar and he graduated from Luther Rice University with a degree in Religion/Ministry and he lives in Ringgold. He has played piano since the age of 10 and began singing about three years ago. His talents have allowed him to perform on WSM and theaters around the south including special appearances at the Texas Troubadour Theater in Nashville, the Tribute Theater, Country Tonite Theater, and Smoky Mountain Opry Theater in Pigeon Forge, Graceland in Memphis, festivals, concerts and churches. Road to Nashville was directed by Randall Franks with the talents of camera operators Tommy Barnes and Share America scholar Ryan Stinson.
It originally aired at a ticketed event at the Ringgo Theater at the Ringgold Depot in Ringgold, Ga. November 13, 2015 and was submitted to film festivals.
Share America Foundation, Inc., a 501-C-3 of Georgia, fosters the arts and preserves the history of Appalachia through the presentation of the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship to youth who continue traditional music styles of the region. It also hosts special events and creates projects that perpetuate the Appalachian experience. It operates with a five-member volunteer board, currently including Chairman Gary Knowles, Vice Chairman Jimmy Terrell, Secretary James Pelt, President Randall Franks, and Vice President Jerry Robinson, and a task force of volunteers. The organization has assisted 30 college scholars thus far and numerous other youth in aspiring towards their musical goals through entertainer mentors, live performances, and creating opportunities for learning and success. Among the partners of the Share America Foundation are AirPlay Direct, Hillbilly Love, Round Up Grant from the North Georgia Electric Membership Corporation Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Ringgold, and the Wes and Shirley Smith Charitable Endowment and numerous individual donors. “Black Eyed Suzy” & “Filling the River with Tears” (Randall Franks/Peach Picked Pub./BMI) Based on a poem by Evelyn Rose Brock.
To Support Programs Like This Please Donate to the
Share America Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755
https://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.png00Randall Frankshttps://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.pngRandall Franks2024-02-02 23:33:102024-02-03 21:28:35The Road to Nashville
Join us as we create the opportunity of bringing this project to film festivals and ultimately to viewers via the internet. Sponsors who will support our efforts are still welcome. Contact us for more info on how you may help. Send a check to Randall Franks, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.
The American’s Creed
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The American’s Creed – Randall Franks
The American’s Creed and The Making of ‘The American’s Creed’
Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution with a patriotic short film and documentary.
Awards and Recognitions
Spotlight Short Film Bronze AwardFilm Festival RecognitionHigh Tatras FinalistCastle Rock FinalistHollywood Indie SelectionNorth Idaho RecognitionKalakari RecognitionSATV Recognition
About the Films
The Making of ‘The American’s Creed’ PosterThe American’s Creed Poster
Thank you to our sponsors:
Top of Georgia Economic Development Initiative
Smith & Wesley
Mountain View Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
William Marsh Chapter – National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
The Bank of LaFayette
William H.H. Clark
Marshall M. Bandy Jr. Law Office
Rhonda James
Boynton Lions Club of Ringgold, Georgia
Gateway Business Center
Stateline Electronics
AirPlay Direct
Our films were entered in over 70 film festivals worldwide. The American’s Creed was a finalist and screened at the Tatras International Film Festival in Slovakia, the JEFF (Jinju English Film Festival) in South Korea, Castle Rock Film Festival in Colorado, and the Will Rogers Motion Picture Festival in Oklahoma, among others. It premiered in Ringgold at the Colonnade and debuted publicly online on April 1 on Randall Franks TV.
The Making of The American’s Creed won the Bronze Award at the Spotlight Short Film Awards in January 2024, received an Honorable Mention at the Castle Rock Film Festival in Colorado, and screened at the Kalakari Film Festival in India and the Hollywood Best Indie Film Festival, among others.
These projects are broadcasting on Randall Franks TV on Rumble, YouTube, X, and Brighteon, marking the beginning of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution.
Director Randall Franks, known as “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s In the Heat of the Night, wrote a screenplay inspired by the patriotic words of his kinsman William Tyler Page, penned in 1917 and adopted as The American’s Creed. Cinematographer Eric T. Jackson helped bring this historical drama set during the American Revolution to life.
Randall Franks and Butch Culpepper in Chickamauga
In the storyline, American colonist Robert B. Shields of Virginia, played by Franks, responds to a request from his cousin George Washington to muster men from the western frontier for the revolution in the 1770s. The project was filmed in Chickamauga, Ga. at the historic Gordon Lee Mansion and surrounding locations.
Eric T. Jackson, Evan A. Jackson, and Randall Franks
The cast includes Franks, Tina Brewer, Wesley Crider, Evan A. Jackson, Butch Culpepper, Ronald K. Melton Jr., Robert E. Jones, Maggie Suits, Donald Benkis, Elaine Benkis, Dennis L. Jones, Ashley Robillard, John Francis, Cassandra Group, Gabriel Group, and Colton Buckles. Actor/wrangler Butch Culpepper contributed his talents and his film horses, Charlie and Dollar.
Period costumer Tina Brewer supervised costumes, supported by Ronald K. Melton Jr. and Robert E. Jones. Special thanks to Kathy Graham of It’s Sew Time for donating a hair ribbon for “Capt. Shields.” Catering was provided by Choo Choo BBQ & Grill of Chickamauga.
Randall Franks directing Ronald Melton, Robert Jones, and Wesley Crider
Special thanks to the City of Chickamauga mayor, council, staff, and residents for their support during production.
Community Recognition
Randall Franks presented Bronze Award Posters to the City of Chickamauga Mayor and City Council, Catoosa County Chairman and Board of Commissioners, and the Fort Oglethorpe Mayor and City Council in April and May of 2025.
From left: Chickamauga Councilmember Mathew Nave, City Manager Micheal Haney, Councilmember David Jones, Actor/Director Randall Franks, Mayor Trey Deck, Mayor Pro Tem Evitte Parrish, Councilmember Rhonda Jacks, and Councilmember Lee Miller.Thanks to Mayor Earl L. Gray, Mayor Pro Tem Rhonda James, Councilmembers Paula G. Stinnett, Craig Crawford, Derek Rogers, Jim Childs, City Manager Molly Huhn, and City Attorney Robert Stultz.Thanks to Chairman Steven Henry, Commissioners Charlie Stephens, Richard Tharpe, Chuck Harris, and Jeff Long for supporting this patriotic project.
Trivia
Trivia: Actor/director Randall Franks, who portrays a cousin of George Washington in the film, is a close cousin of founding fathers George Washington, James Madison, and Thomas Jefferson.
George Washington
He is also a kinsman to John Adams and James Monroe.
Of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, 48 were Randall’s family members.
Sister Sophie (Tina Brewer) and Jamie Shields (Maggie Suits)
Randall is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
William Tyler Page, author of The American’s Creed
Music and Soundtrack
Randall Franks released the music video “The American’s Creed – Recitation” in October 2024 and the instrumental version to enhance the film’s patriotic theme.
Randall Franks and Wesley Crider at Tim Witt Studios
The album The American’s Creed reached #7 on the AirPlay Direct Global Americana Albums chart and #40 on the TOP 50 Global Albums chart in April 2024. All tunes and songs charted in the top 40, with those related to the films landing in the top 20. The singles “The American’s Creed (Recitation)” reached #5 and “The American’s Creed Movement 2” reached #6 on the AirPlay Direct Americana Singles chart.
Included on the album are performances by Randall Franks and the Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree, two 40th Anniversary recordings with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys, and a 70th Anniversary Tribute to Andy Griffith’s What It Was, Was Football. Learn more at our webpage.
Special thanks to Greg Jackson for creating the art for the album cover.
Join us in bringing this project to film festivals and viewers worldwide. Support our efforts by purchasing merchandise, donating, or becoming a sponsor. Send checks to Randall Franks, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.
Orders may also be sent via mail to Randall Franks, P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.
American Actor/entertainer Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” recently joined internationally known finger-style guitarist Wesley Crider, both of Ringgold, Ga., for a recording session. The duo was creating original music for Randall’s short film “The American’s Creed” in Tim Witt Studios near LaFayette, Ga. “I am looking forward to folks hearing the four unique movements of music we have created to underscore the emotions of the actors,” Frank’s said. “Wesley brought an amazing sense of timing and style to enhance my ideas with the fiddle.” Expected for release later in 2022, the film set during the American Revolutionary War was shot on location at the Gordon Lee Mansion in Chickamauga. From left is engineer Witt, Crider and Franks. (Photo: Randall Franks Media)
https://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.png00Randall Frankshttps://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.pngRandall Franks2022-03-18 00:04:122022-03-18 00:10:17Randall Franks and Wesley Crider set tempo for new film
I have been told there was a time when a person was judged upon the words which emanated from his mouth.
A person’s character could be seen in his deeds and by what he would say and sometimes what he would not say.
I have met many people in my life. Some, I would not trust them as far as I could throw them, while others — if they say it, it will be done.
When two people struck a bargain and shook hands there was nothing else to do.
Today, however, we are in a world filled will reams of contracts, agreements and endless disclaimers and visits to a lawyer.
My grandpa Bill was a man of his word. If he said he would help with something, no matter what hardship it placed upon him, he would do it.
In my association with music legend Bill Monroe, I learned quickly that his honor was paramount in his image.
There was never a bargain struck or a promise made between he and I that he did not make come to pass.
I remember visiting with him before his final illness. He walked up to me and with the strength of a 20-year-old he squeezed my hand. He looked at me dead in the eye and said, “I tell you man, there are not that many good men left any more. Men like us need to stick together and help each other out.”
More than his praise of my musical ability or all the things he had done for me in my life, those few words conveyed to me that he thought of me as a man of my word.
Working in the world of television and film, I quickly learned the lesson that many Hollywood movers and shakers tend to be the opposite. Most of these trendsetters simply tell you what you want to hear rather than the truth. This trend relates more to the stars and executives of the last two to three decades.
There are and were what I call “class acts” such as the late stars Gene Autry, John Wayne and Roy Rogers whose word was their bond. I wish there were more people like them today.
I cannot tell you how many times someone has promised me they would use me in a movie project, and then when the project came along that promise was forgotten.
I am afraid I have found the same to be true in the “real” world as well.
Sometimes it just makes you want to lose faith in the entire human race when a person tells you he will do one thing and he does another.
In my own life, I have never broke a promise or not followed through with an agreement. Being a man of your word also carries through to fulfilling the everyday tasks that we all do. Returning phone calls, fulfilling requests, replying to mail are just a few of the little things that some folks might miss.I know that I have probably misstepped by not doing a few things that I have said I would do in my life. For those touched by such an action, I ask for forgiveness.
But I also know when I have told someone I would do something, usually such an assurance has popped up in my memory over and over again until I finish the task. There have been times I have carried one of those little things around in my head for a couple of years until I could do something about it.
But no matter what, I always did it.
Despite trends to the contrary and those who we discover are not honorable by their deeds and words, I believe it is the responsibility of every individual to make every effort to rise above such people to make our community a place of honor. It is what we owe our forefathers who built this land, and what we owe those who fight and die for our continued freedom.
https://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.png00Randall Frankshttps://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.pngRandall Franks2020-02-12 06:00:092020-02-03 23:47:22Your word is your bond
Georgia’s Fiddlin’ John Carson contribution to country music as first recording star continues to be honored.
From left Randy Smith, Dan Daniel, Yvonne Smith, Pete Hatfield and Rick Smith perform in honor of Fiddlin’ John Carson.
Randall Franks joined Georgia artists at Sylvester Cemetery in Atlanta, Ga. recognizing the 149th Birthday of Country Music’s first recording star Fiddlin’ John Carson by playing his first hit “Little Ole Log Cabin in the Lane.” The performance organized by the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame reunited Franks with musician Randy Smith who joined Franks as he produced a recording featuring TV icon Carroll O’Connor in 1990. Ken Starr was presented the Fiddlin’ John Carson Award at the event.
Randall Franks, Yvonne and Randy Smith pause in front of the Carson family monument in Atlanta’s Sylvester Cemetery.
https://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Randall-Franks-News-Updates-200x200.jpg200200Randall Frankshttps://randallfranks.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/r-franks-logo-1.pngRandall Franks2017-03-27 17:17:322017-03-27 17:34:43Randall Franks performs in honor of Fiddlin’ John Carson
Doodle and the Golden River Grass Georgia Music Hall of Fame Exhibit in 2003. (Photo: Peach Picked Publishing)
