Larry Franklin (musician)
Larry Franklin is an American Fiddler, mandolin and guitar player, session musician, and composer. His style embraces country, blues, rock and roll, jazz, and Western swing. Biography Early years Growing up in Whitewright, Texas, Franklin took up the fiddle at age 7. He was inspired by his father Louis Franklin and his great uncle Major Franklin, well-known Texas-style fiddlers. Franklin's first fiddler's contest, at age 7, was in Hale Center, Texas, on July 4, 1960, where he met famed fiddler Uncle Eck Robertson. He continued competing and winning championships through his teens and won the World Championship in Crockett, Texas, when he was 16 years old. Franklin performed with dance bands while in high school. After three years in the Army (1972-1975), he co-founded the Cooder Browne Band, who were signed by Willie Nelson to his Lone Star Records label where they released one album. Franklin was with the band from 1976 until 1980. Asleep at the Wheel After leading his own Larry Franklin Band from 1980 until 1984, Franklin performed with Asleep At The Wheel from 1984 until 1991. They won two Grammy Awards for Instrumental of the Year: in 1987 for "String of Pars" (co-written by Franklin), and in 1988 for "Sugarfoot Rag". They won another Grammy in 1999 for "Bob's Breakdowns" on the Ridin' with Bob album. Session work and touring Franklin moved to Nashville in 1991 to work as a session musician. He has worked with Lee Ann Womack, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill, Ray Price, Mel Tillis, and Miranda Lambert, among others. The Time Jumpers Franklin performs Monday nights at 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville with the Time Jumpers, an 11-piece Western swing band anchored by three fiddles played by Kenny Sears, Joe Spivey, and Franklin. Other members include Vince Gill (guitar), Doug Green (guitar), Paul Franklin (steel guitar), Brad Albin (bass), Andy Reiss (guitar), Jeff Taylor (accordion, piano), and Billy Thomas (drums). Sons of the Palomino Franklin is a member of Sons of the Palomino, led by Jeffrey Steele. The band also includes Paul Franklin, Jerry Roe, Tony Harrell, James Mitchell, and Brad Albin. Louis Franklin Fiddlefest In 2005, Franklin started the annual Louis Franklin Championship Fiddlefest with his nephew Jason Andrew and 2010 was the final year it was held. Awards While a member of Asleep at the Wheel, Franklin won two Grammy awards for Instrumental Performance of the Year in 1987 and 1988. Larry won a third Grammy as a guest with Asleep at the Wheel for Instrumental Performance of the Year in 1999 for "Bob's Breakdowns" from the Ridin' with Bob album. In 1997 and 2002 the Academy of Country Music awarded him the Fiddle Player of the Year award. Franklin was inducted into the Texas Fiddlers' Hall Of Fame in 2002 and the National Fiddlers Hall of Fame in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2017. Discography Solo albums 1978: Keepsake Album with father Louis Franklin (self-released) 2001: Now and Then (self-released) 2010: The Texas Fiddle Album with Ray & Royce Franklin