Randall Franks

American actor/entertainer Randall Franks is best known as “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” a role he performed on NBC and CBS from 1988–1993. He also starred in two other series, the most recent with Robert Townsend in “Musical Theater of Hope” which aired on UPtv (Gospel Music Channel).

The award-winning author wrote nine books, including “Encouragers I: Finding the Light,” “Encouragers II: Walking with the Masters,” “Encouragers III: A Guiding Hand,” “A Mountain Pearl: Appalachian Reminiscing and Recipes;” “Whittlin’ and Fiddlin’ My Own Way: The Violet Hensley Story” with Violet Hensley; “Stirring Up Success with a Southern Flavor,” and “Stirring Up Additional Success with a Southern Flavor” with Shirley Smith; and “Snake Oil, Superstars and Me” with “Doc” Tommy Scott and Shirley Noe Swiesz.

A journalist with more than 20 state and national awards, Franks is also a syndicated columnist with his “Southern Style” appearing weekly in newspapers from North Carolina to Texas and at www.randallfranks.com

He has co-starred or starred in 15 films with superstars who include Dolly Parton, Christian Slater, William Hurt, Stella Parton, and legendary western star “Doc” Tommy Scott. His most recent film is “Broken” with Soren Fulton, Felix Ryan, Bailey Anne Borders and Joe Stevens.

Franks’ musical stylings have been heard in 150 countries and by more than 25 million Americans. The Independent Country Music Hall of Fame member’s musical career boasts 25 album releases, 21 singles, and over 200 recordings with artists from various genres. The International Bluegrass Music Museum Legend annually hosts the historic Grand Master Fiddler Championship at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. The award-winning fiddler’s best-selling release, “Handshakes and Smiles,” was a top 20 Christian music seller. Many of his albums were among the top 30 bluegrass recordings of their release year. The Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame member shared a top country vocal collaboration with Grand Ole Opry stars The Whites. In addition to his solo career, which includes years of guest starring for the Grand Ole Opry, Franks is a former member of Bill Monroe’s Blue Grass Boys and Jim and Jesse’s Virginia Boys. He has performed with Jeff & Sheri Easter, the Lewis Family, the Marksmen Quartet, the Watkins Family, Elaine and Shorty, “Doc” Tommy Scott’s Last Real Old Time Medicine Show, and Doodle and the Golden River Grass.

He is past chairman of the Catoosa Citizens for Literacy, which assists individuals in learning to read and pursuing a GED at its Catoosa County Learning Center near Ringgold. He is also president of the Share America Foundation, Inc. that provides the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship to musicians continuing the traditional music of Appalachia. He hosts a concert series at the historic Ringgold Depot which helps fund the scholarships. He is the Northwest Georgia Joint Economic Development Authority film industry liaison. He also serves on the Georgia Production Partnership Government Relations Committee.

. He was included among his generation’s leading country humorists in the Loyal Jones book “Country Music Humorists and Comedians.”

For more information, visit www.randallfranks.com and www.shareamericafoundation.org.

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