Appalachian humorist/actor releases classic Andy Griffith comedy tribute on his “The American’s Creed” album 70 years after Griffith’s Billboard sports hit “What It Was Was Football.”
“Like many, one of the people who greatly inspired my career is the late Andy Griffith,” Franks said. “He did what many young Southern performers hope to do combining acting, comedy and music into a decade-long career while creating several long-lasting TV series.”
Franks was recognized by Appalachian scholar Loyal Jones as a unique voice in Southern humor reflecting his live shows, his comedy scenes on TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” and comedy release “Tune and Tales from Tunnel Hill” (1995), ” Comedy Down Home” (1999), and “Keep ‘Em Smilin'” (2016).
As a special addition to his latest album “The American’s Creed,” the multiple music hall of fame inductee recorded Griffith’s career beginning monologue “What It Was Was Football.”
Randall Franks (Randall Franks Media: Anna Ritch)
It was 70 years ago in February 1954 that the comedy piece hit the top 10 on the Billboard charts helping bring attention to the North Carolina entertainer.
“Using my own comedy style, I have re-created what I felt was magical about this amazing hit,” he said. “It will be available for all radio stations just in time for high school and college football seasons. I hope that radio around the country might give it a spin recognizing the 70th Anniversary and my paying tribute to this great performer.”
Franks attributes “The Andy Griffith Show” as being one of the reasons he became a musical entertainer with its features of the Dillards as “The Darlings.”
“I included Andy in my “Encouragers” book series sharing the impact he had on my life and career,” Franks said.Randall Franks welcomes fellow “In the Heat of the Night” stars, from left, David Hart and Alan Autry to the Grand Ole Opry with stars Jim & Jesse McReynolds in 1991. (Randall Franks Media: Donna Tracy)
Also included in the album is the traditional country gospel sound of the Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree with his release of “Must Be A Reason.”
The song is one of the selections from what is already a Top-10 AirPlay Direct Global Americana Album “The American’s Creed,” from Crimson Records, featuring music from his current film and documentary “The American’s Creed” and “The Making of ‘The America’s Creed’.”
On the album, Franks, also includes the gospel song he wrote with the late classic country gospel artist James Carson who enjoyed great success in the 1940s and 50s recording as James and Martha Carson and with The Masters Family.
“James was a very talented songwriter, singer and musician and he was one of the early encouragers in my life and music,” Franks said. “I was so honorable to be able to pen this song with him several years ago and continue to share it on my shows. It states simply that for me, Jesus is the Reason.”
The performance is a live recording of Franks entertaining with his Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree including Ryan Stinson on piano and harmony vocals, Todd Watkins on bass and harmony vocals, Caleb Lewis on guitar, Dawson Wright on banjo and Colton Brown on drums.
Franks wrote and performs the music from the films with gospel entertainer and finger-style guitarist Wesley Crider. Several of the album selections are instrumental movements from the film and are entitled respectively “The American’s Creed” with various movement numbers.
Also featured is his patriotic recitation of “The American’s Creed” supported by one of the duo’s musical compositions.
Musicians Randall Franks and Wesley Crider on the set of “The Making of ‘The American’s Creed'” (Peach Picked Productions: Eric Jackson)
“This is the third element of the American trilogy with ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ and ‘The Pledge of Allegiance’,” Franks said. “These words reflect why we believe in being an American. When William Tyler Page wrote these and Congress adopted them in 1918, I think those involved knew that we would need to be reminded of these thoughts again and again in future years.”
Franks said he hopes his radio friends will share the recitation as a regular reminder of the importance of what we believe as Americans.
