Michael Franks: Biography

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• Ben Sidran
• Jimmy Buffett
• Gino Vannelli
• Kenny Rankin
• Mose Allison
• Jon Lucien
• Mark Murphy

• Rosemary Clooney
• Fred Astaire
• Cole Porter
• Frank Sinatra
• Tony Bennett
• Astrud Gilberto
• Julius LaRosa

• John Lester
• Steve Means
• Sore
• Kurt Elling

• Al Schmitt
• Randy Brecker
• David Benoit
• Neil Jason
• David Sanborn
• Bob Mintzer
• Lawrence Feldman

Born:

Sep 18, 1944 in La Jolla, CA

Genres:

Jazz Music, Standards & Vocal Music, Contemporary Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1970's|1980's|1990's|2000's

Artistic Quality

Low

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

An enormously popular performer in the late '70s and early '80s, Franks performed folk/rock songs while in high school, then became a literature student at UCLA and a part-time performer. He taught undergraduate music courses in the early '70s at both UCLA and Berkeley, then provided scores for the films Count Your Bullets and Zandy's Bride. He made his first album in 1973, then enjoyed success with a string of late '70s albums on Warner Brothers. He has worked with the likes of Flora Purim, Kenny Rankin, Ron Carter, the Crusaders, David Sanborn, Toots Thielemans, Eric Gale, and others, and has had songs recorded by The Manhattan Transfer, Patti Labelle, Carmen McRae, and the Carpenters.

- Ron Wynn, All Music Guide