3 years ago

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Appalachia Lifestyle Bluegrass Music Gospel Music Christmas Music

http://shareamericafoundation.org http://randallfranks.com/
30th Anniversary Christmas Time's A Comin' CD featuring "In the Heat of the Night" Cast and Friends

Actor/entertainer Randall Franks portrayed "Officer Randy Goode" on TV's "In the Heat of the Night."
Franks was already a successful music artist prior to coming to the cast in 1988.
He became a recurring guest star for the Grand Ole Opry ® beginning in 1984, seven years prior to this recording that combines him with other Opry stars The Whites -- Buck Cheryl and Sharon, Jesse McReynolds and Dobro ® virtuoso Jerry Douglas.
He and the Whites perform "Let's Live Every Day Like It Was Christmas," a song written by songwriter Mark Wheeler, of The Marksmen Quartet, and Franks. The song was among Country Music's Top Country Vocal Collaborations of its release year.
At the end of the song, Franks talks briefly about his work on "In the Heat of the Night" from a 1991 interview.
Franks (randallfranks.com) and his In the Heat of the Night co-star Alan Autry (autryentertainmentgroup.com) joined forces under the banner of Autry-Franks Productions in 1990 to produce the charity In the Heat of the Night CD "Christmas Time's A Comin'" featuring the cast of the show.
" Let's Live Every Day Like It Was Christmas " also includes the talents of Bill Everett, Monty Hall and the late Gene Daniell.
The project raised funds for drug abuse prevention charities throughout the United States.
Hart joined in with other cast members and music stars to perform on "Jingle Bells" and "Christmas Time's A Comin'". Franks and Autry were able to include many music legends, some among them, Country Music Hall of Famers Kitty Wells, Jimmy Dickens, and Pee Wee King as well as many top legends from the Bluegrass genre, from Jim and Jesse to the Lewis Family. The Christmas Time's A Comin' CD released on Sonlite and MGM/UA was one of the most popular Christmas releases of 1991 and 1992 with Southern retailers and was considered for awards by the Recording Academy, the Country Music Association and the International Bluegrass Music Association..
Autry and Franks mark the 20th Anniversary in 2012 with a charity re-release with the original companies benefiting the same charitable goal from the non-profit Share America Foundation, Inc. and it remains available (www.shareamericafoundation.org)
The International Bluegrass Music Museum Legend Franks's musical stylings have been heard in 150 countries and by more than 25 million Americans. His musical career boasts 18 album releases, 17 singles, and over 200 recordings with various artists from various genres. The award-winning fiddler's best selling release, "Handshakes and Smiles" was a top twenty Christian music seller. Many of his albums were among the top 30-bluegrass recordings of their release year. In addition to his solo career which includes 13 years of guest starring for the Grand Ole Opry, Franks is a former member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, Jim and Jesse's Virginia Boys and has performed with Jeff and Sheri Easter, The Lewis Family, the Marksmen Quartet, Elaine and Shorty, "Doc" Tommy Scott's Last Real Old Time Medicine Show and Doodle and the Golden River Grass.
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 monthly concert series at the historic Ringgold Depot which helps fund the scholarships.
He authored eight books. He is a syndicated columnist with his column "Southern Style" appears weekly in newspapers from North Carolina to Texas. He was included among his generation's leading country humorists in Loyal Jones' book "Country Music Humorists and Comedians."
"Let's Live Every Day Like It Was Christmas"
(Randall Franks and Mark Wheeler/Lowery Music, Inc./BMI
Audio Recordings © 1991 Autry-Franks Productions
Released in association with Sonlite Records, Crimson Records and MGM/UA
A News and Information Production © 2012 Autry-Franks Productions in association with The Share America Foundation, Inc.
Grammy ® is a trademark of The Recording Academy.
The Grand Ole Opry ® is a trademark of Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc.
"In the Heat of the Night" is the property of MGM Worldwide Entertainment Group A Division of Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, Inc.