Name	Bluegrass
Bgcolor	brown
Color	white
Stylistic origins	English folk; Scottish folk; Irish folk; Appalachian music, Old-time music, Afro-American music, String bands
Cultural origins	Mid to late 1880s United States
Instruments	fiddle, banjo, acoustic guitar, mandolin, Dobro, and upright bass
Popularity	originally eastern Midwestern and Southeastern United States, but now diffused throughout the U.S. and the world, especially Japan and parts of Europe.
Subgenrelist	List of bluegrass genres
Subgenres	Progressive bluegrass – Traditional bluegrass
Fusiongenres	Jam band
Regional scenes	Czech Republic
Other topics	Musicians – Hall of Honor }}

Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. Bluegrass was inspired by the music of Appalachia. It has mixed roots in Scottish, Irish and English traditional music, and also it was influenced by the music of African-Americans through incorporation of jazz elements.

Immigrants from England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland arrived in Appalachia in the 18th (and in some cases 17th) century, and brought with them the musical traditions of these countries. These traditions consisted primarily of English and Scottish ballads— which were essentially unaccompanied narratives— and dance music, such as Irish reels, which were accompanied by a fiddle. Many older Bluegrass songs come directly from the British Isles. Several Appalachian Bluegrass ballads, such as Pretty Saro, Barbara Allen, Cuckoo Bird and House Carpenter, come from England and preserve the English ballad tradition both melodically and lyrically. Others such as The Twa Sisters also come from England, however the lyrics are about Ireland. Some Bluegrass fiddle songs popular in Appalachia, such as "Leather Britches", and Pretty Polly, have Scottish roots. The dance tune Cumberland Gap may be derived from the tune that accompanies the Scottish ballad Bonnie George Campbell. Other songs have different names in different places, for instance in England there is an old ballad known as A Brisk Young Sailor Courted Me, however exactly the same song in North American Bluegrass is known as "I Wish My Baby Was Born".

In bluegrass, as in some forms of jazz, one or more instruments each takes its turn playing the melody and improvising around it, while the others perform accompaniment; this is especially typified in tunes called breakdowns. This is in contrast to old-time music, in which all instruments play the melody together or one instrument carries the lead throughout while the others provide accompaniment. Breakdowns are often characterized by rapid tempos and unusual instrumental dexterity and sometimes by complex chord changes.

Bluegrass music has attracted a diverse following worldwide. Bluegrass pioneer Bill Monroe characterized the genre as: "Scottish bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin'. It's Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It's blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound."

Characteristics[link]

Instrumentation[link]

Unlike mainstream country music, bluegrass is traditionally played on acoustic stringed instruments. The fiddle, five-string banjo, guitar, mandolin, and upright bass (string bass) are often joined by the resonator guitar (also referred to as a Dobro) and (occasionally) harmonica. This instrumentation originated in rural dance bands and is the basis on which the earliest bluegrass bands were formed.

The guitar is now most commonly played with a style referred to as flatpicking, unlike the style of seminal bluegrass guitarist Lester Flatt, who used a thumb and finger pick. Banjo players often use the three-finger picking style made popular by Earl Scruggs. Fiddlers will frequently play in thirds and fifths, producing a sound that is characteristic to the bluegrass style. The bassist will almost always play pizzicato, occasionally adopting the "slap-style" to accentuate the beat. A bluegrass bass line is generally a rhythmic alternation between the tonic and dominant of each chord, with occasional walking bass excursions.

Instrumentation has been an ongoing topic of debate. Traditional bluegrass performers believe the "correct" instrumentation is that used by Bill Monroe's band, the Blue Grass Boys (mandolin, played by Monroe, fiddle, guitar, banjo and bass). Departures from the traditional instrumentation have included accordion, harmonica, piano, autoharp, drums, electric guitar, and electric versions of other common bluegrass instruments, resulting in what has been referred to as "newgrass."

Vocals[link]

Aside from specific instrumentation, a distinguishing characteristic of bluegrass is vocal harmony featuring two, three, or four parts, often with a dissonant or modal sound in the highest voice (see modal frame), a style described as the "high, lonesome sound." Commonly, the ordering and layering of vocal harmony is called the 'stack'. A standard stack has a baritone voice at the bottom, the lead in the middle (singing the main melody) and a tenor at the top; although stacks can be altered, especially where a female voice is included. Alison Krauss and Union Station provide a good example of a different harmony stack with a baritone and tenor with a high lead, an octave above the standard melody line, sung by the female vocalist. However, by employing variants to the standard trio vocal arrangement, they were simply following a pattern existing since the early days of the genre. The Stanley Brothers utilized a high baritone part on several of their trios recorded for Columbia records during their time with that label (1950–1953). Mandolin player Pee Wee Lambert sang the high baritone above Ralph Stanley's tenor, both parts above Carter's lead vocal. This trio vocal arrangement was variously used by other groups as well. In the 1960s Flatt and Scruggs often added a fifth part to the traditional quartet parts on gospel songs, the extra part being a high baritone (doubling the baritone part sung in the normal range of that voice; Howard Watts [aka 'Cedric Rainwater] providing the part). The use of a high lead with the tenor and baritone below it was most famously employed by the Osborne Brothers who first employed it during their time with MGM records in the latter half of the 1950s. This vocal arrangement would be the defining aspect of the Osbornes' sound with Bobby's high, clear voice at the top of the vocal stack.

Themes[link]

Bluegrass tunes can largely be described as narratives on the everyday lives of the people whence the music came. Aside from laments about loves lost, interpersonal tensions and unwanted changes to the region (e.g., the visible effects of mountaintop coal mining), bluegrass vocals frequently reference the hard-scrabble existence of living in Appalachia and other rural areas with modest financial resources. Some protest music has been composed in the bluegrass style, especially concerning the vicissitudes of the Appalachian coal mining industry. Railroading has also been a popular theme, with ballads such as "Wreck of the Old 97" and "Nine Pound Hammer" (from the legend of John Henry) being exemplary.

History[link]

Creation[link]

Bluegrass, as a distinct musical form, developed from elements of old-time music and traditional music of the Appalachian region of the United States. The Appalachian region was where many English and Ulster-Scots immigrants settled, bringing with them the musical traditions of their homelands. Hence the sounds of jigs and reels, especially as played on the fiddle, were innate to the developing style. Black musicians infused characteristics of the blues to the mix, and in a development that was key to shaping the bluegrass sound, introduced the iconic banjo to the region.

The music now known as bluegrass was frequently used to accompany a rural dancing style known as buckdancing, flatfooting or clogging. As the bluegrass sound spread to urban areas, listening to it for its own sake increased, especially after the advent of audio recording. In 1948, what would become to be known as bluegrass emerged as a genre within the post-war country/western-music industry, a period of time characterized now as the golden era or wellspring of "traditional bluegrass." From its earliest days, bluegrass has been recorded and performed by professional and amateur musicians alike. Although amateur bluegrass musicians and trends such as "parking-lot picking" are too important to be ignored, it is touring musicians who have set the direction of the style.

Originally Bluegrass style was included in the category of folk music and later changed to hillbilly and in 1948 bluegrass was placed under the country/western heading for radio airplay charting. All four of the seminal bluegrass authors: Artis, Price, Canwell and Rosenburg described bluegrass music in detail as originating in style and form, in one form or another, between the 1930s and mid-1940s. However, the term “bluegrass” did not appear formally to describe the music until the late 1950s, and did not appear in Music Index until 1965 (Kretzschmar, 1970). The first entry in Music Index mentioning “bluegrass music” directed the reader to “see Country Music; Hillbilly Music” (Kretzschmar, 1970, p. 91). Music Index maintained this listing for bluegrass music until 1986. The first time bluegrass music had its own entries in Music Index was 1987 (Stratelak, 1988).There is no strict definition of bluegrass, although there are clear derivatives—the topical and narrative themes of many bluegrass songs are highly reminiscent of folk music. In fact, many songs that are widely considered to be bluegrass are in reality older works legitimately classified as folk or old-time music that are performed in the bluegrass style. Hence the interplay between bluegrass and folk forms has been academically studied. Folklorist Dr. Neil Rosenberg, for example, shows that most devoted bluegrass fans and musicians are familiar with traditional folk songs and old-time music, and that these songs are often played at shows, festivals and jams.

Exactly when the word bluegrass itself was adopted to label this form is not certain, but is believed to be in the late 1950s, and was derived from the name of the seminal Blue Grass Boys band, formed in 1939 with Bill Monroe as its leader. Due to this lineage, Bill Monroe is frequently referred to as the "father of bluegrass", although his style drew upon the country, gospel, and blues music with which he had grown up.

Monroe's 1946 to 1948 band, which featured banjo prodigy Earl Scruggs, singer-guitarist Lester Flatt, fiddler Chubby Wise and bassist Howard Watts (also known as "Cedric Rainwater")—sometimes called "the original bluegrass band"—created the definitive sound and instrumental configuration that remains a model to this day. By some arguments, while the Blue Grass Boys were the only band playing this music, it was just their unique sound; it could not be considered a musical style until other bands began performing in similar fashion. In 1948, the Stanley Brothers recorded the traditional song "Molly and Tenbrooks" in the Blue Grass Boys' style, arguably the point in time that bluegrass emerged as a distinct musical form. As Ralph Stanley himself said about the origins of the genre and its name:

First generation[link]

First generation bluegrass musicians dominated the genre from its beginnings in the mid-1940s through the mid-1960s. This group generally consists of those who were playing during the "Golden Age" in the 1950s, including Wade Mainer and his Mountaineers, Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys, the Stanley Brothers, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs with the Foggy Mountain Boys, Hylo Brown and The Timberliners, Ervin T. Rouse, who wrote the standard "Orange Blossom Special", Reno and Smiley, the Sauceman Brothers, Lonesome Pine Fiddlers, Jim & Jesse, Jimmy Martin and the Osborne Brothers, Red Allen (who also recorded with the Osborne Brothers for MGM in the mid-fifties), Mac Wiseman, Mac Martin and the Dixie Travelers, Carl Story and his Rambling Mountaineers, Buzz Busby, The Lilly Brothers, Bill Clifton and Jim Eanes.

Second generation[link]

A second generation of Bluegrass musicians began performing, composing and recording in the mid- to late-1960s, although many had played in first generation bands from a young age. Some Bluegrass musicians in this group are Doc Watson, J. D. Crowe, Doyle Lawson, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck, John Hartford, Jerry Douglas, Norman Blake, Frank Wakefield, Bill Keith, Del McCoury and Tony Rice. As they refined their craft, the New Grass Revival, Seldom Scene, The Kentucky Colonels, and The Dillards developed progressive bluegrass. In one collaboration, first-generation bluegrass fiddler Vassar Clements, progressive mandolin player David Grisman, Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia (on banjo), and Peter Rowan on lead vocals played in the band called ''Old and in the Way''. Garcia, Chris Hillman, the Stanley Brothers Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers Band and others in the 1960s and 1970s helped introduce rock music listeners to progressive and traditional bluegrass. Bush, Grisman, and Clements developed strong jazz elements in most of their playing – Clements liked to refer to his music as "hillbilly jazz" – but each owes much to traditional bluegrass.

Third generation[link]

Third generation Bluegrass developed in the mid-1980s. Bluegrass grew, matured and broadened from the music played in previous years. This generation redefined "mainstream bluegrass." High-quality sound equipment allowed each band member to be miked independently, exemplified by Tony Rice Unit and The Bluegrass Album Band. Tony Rice showcased elaborate lead guitar solos, and other bands followed. The electric bass became a general, but not universal, alternative to the traditional acoustic bass, though electrification of other instruments continued to meet resistance outside progressive circles. Nontraditional chord progressions also became more widely accepted. On the other hand, this generation saw a renaissance of more traditional songs, played in the newer style. The Johnson Mountain Boys were one of the decade's most popular touring groups, and played strictly traditional bluegrass.

Recent developments[link]

In recent decades bluegrass music has reached a broader audience. Major mainstream country music performers have recorded bluegrass albums, including Dolly Parton and Patty Loveless, who each released several bluegrass albums. Since the late 1990s, Ricky Skaggs, who began as a bluegrass musician and crossed over to mainstream country in the 1980s, returned to bluegrass with his band Kentucky Thunder. The Coen Brothers' film ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?'' (2000) has an country and bluegrass soundtrack which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2002. The documentary and concert film ''Down from the Mountain'' (2000) featured a live performance by the music artists who participated in the recording of the soundtrack recording.

Meanwhile, festivals like the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Rocky-Grass in Lyons, Colorado and the Nederland, Colorado based Yonder Mountain String Band in the United States, and Druhá Tráva in the Czech Republic attract large audiences while expanding the range of progressive bluegrass in the college-jam band atmospheres, often called "jamgrass." Bluegrass fused with jazz in the music of Bela Fleck and The Flecktones, Tony Rice, Sam Bush, Doc Watson, and others.

Sub-genres[link]

There are three major subgenres of bluegrass and one unofficial subgenre.

Traditional bluegrass[link]

Traditional bluegrass emphasizes the traditional elements; musicians play folk songs, tunes with simple traditional chord progressions, and use only acoustic instruments. Generally, compositions are performed on instruments that were played by Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys in the late 1940s. In the early years, instruments no longer accepted in mainstream bluegrass, such as the accordion, were used. Traditional bands may use their instruments in slightly different ways; for example playing the banjo by the claw-hammer style, or using multiple guitars or fiddles in a band. In this subgenre, the guitar rarely leads but acts as a rhythm instrument, one notable exception being gospel-based songs. Melodies and lyrics tend to be simple, often in the key of G, and a I-IV-V chord pattern is common. Although traditional bluegrass performers eschew electrically amplified instruments, as used in other forms of popular music, it is common practice to "mike" acoustic instruments during stage performances before larger audiences.

Traditional bluegrass bands Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Del McCoury, Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, and Danny Paisley & The Southern Grass enjoy nationwide popularity. California mountain bluegrass, a variation on traditional, has enjoyed regional popularity with such bands as Rita Hosking and Cousin Jack.

Progressive bluegrass[link]

Another major subgenre is progressive bluegrass. Groups use electric instruments and import songs from other genres, particularly rock & roll. Although a more recent phenomenon, progressive bluegrass has roots going back to one of the earliest bluegrass bands. The banjo and bass duets Earl Scruggs played even in the earliest days of the Foggy Mountain Boys hint at the wild chord progressions to come. The four key distinguishing elements (not always all present) of progressive bluegrass are instrumentation (frequently including electric instruments, drums, piano, and more), songs imported (or styles imitated) from other genres, chord progressions, and lengthy "jam band"-style improvisation. The String Cheese Incident is one band that sometimes mixes a bluegrass tune with a jam band feeling, especially in original tunes like "Dudley's Kitchen". A twist on this genre is combining elements that preceded bluegrass, such as old-time string band music, with bluegrass music.

Bluegrass Gospel[link]

"Bluegrass gospel" has emerged as a third subgenre. Many bluegrass artists incorporate gospel music into their repertoire. Distinctive elements of this style include Christian lyrics, soulful three- or four-part harmony singing, and sometimes playing instrumentals subdue. A cappella choruses are popular with bluegrass gospel artists, though the harmony structure differs somewhat from standard barbershop or choir singing. Mainstream bluegrass artists Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver and IIIrd Tyme Out have produced bluegrass gospel music. While The Issacs, Mount Zion and The Churchmen play Bluegrass Gospel exclusively.

Neo-Traditional bluegrass[link]

A newer development in the bluegrass world is Neo-Traditional Bluegrass. In the 1990s, most bluegrass bands were headed by a solo artist such as Doyle Lawson and Rhonda Vincent, with an accompanying band. Bands playing this subgenre include The Grascals, Mountain Heart, The Infamous Stringdusters, Steep Canyon Rangers, Pert Near Sandstone, Cadillac Sky, Waterfall Blue Boys, and Cherryholmes who all have more than one lead singer.

"New" grass[link]

Recent developments in the Punk scene have lead some musicians to incorporate the traditional sounds of folk and bluegrass with punk rock attitudes and messages. Old Man Markley, a band out of Los Angeles, CA, has been building a fanbase which directly links the cultures of both Bluegrass and Punk. Of other notable examples, Cactus Attack hailing from Massachusetts blends punk rock attitudes, bluegrass and folk with tough melodies and lyrics reminiscent of lyrics of old.

Academic study of bluegrass[link]

East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee is the only university in the world with a comprehensive program of bluegrass, in its Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music program. An academic major and minor are both offered. The program is both academic and performance-oriented.

Social and musical impact[link]

In movies[link]

''O Brother, Where Art Thou?''

''Cold Mountain''

''King of Bluegrass: The Life and Times of Jimmy Martin''

''That High Lonesome Sound''

''High Lonesome: the Story of Bluegrass Music'' (documentary)

''The Ralph Stanley Story'' (documentary)

''Bill Monroe: the Father of Bluegrass'' (documentary)

''Deliverance''

''Matewan''

''Harlan County, USA''

''Bonnie and Clyde''

''Bluegrass Journey'' (documentary)

''Ralph Stanley: Reunion''

Publications[link]

Bluegrass Unlimited

British Bluegrass News

Cybergrass

Opera and theater[link]

The Original Bluegrass Opera of Detroit

RedHead Express Bluegrass Show at Circle B Theatre, Branson, Missouri

Museums[link]

International Bluegrass Music Museum Owensboro, Kentucky

Bill Monroe Museum Rosine, Kentucky

Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Hall of Fame and Country Star Museum Bean Blossom, Indiana

Ralph Stanley Museum and Traditional Mountain Music Center Clintwood, Virginia

The Bluegrass Bus Museum Nashville, Tennessee

Historical Music Trail[link]

The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail Southwest Virginia

Shenandoah Music Trail Shenandoah Valley Virginia

See also[link]

G run

Bluegrass fiddle

References[link]

Artis, B. (1975). Bluegrass. NY: Hawthorne Books, Inc.

Cantwell, R. (1996). When we were good: The folk revival. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Cantwell, R. (1984). Bluegrass breakdown: The making of the old southern sound. Chicago: University Illinois Press.

Kingsbury, Paul (2004). ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music: The Ultimate Guide to the Music''. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-517608-1.

Price, S. D. (1975). Old as the hills: The story of bluegrass music. NY: The Viking Press.

Rosenberg, Neil (1985). ''Bluegrass: A History''. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-00265-2.

van der Merwe, Peter (1989). ''Origins of the Popular Style: The Antecedents of Twentieth-Century Popular Music''. Oxford: Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-19-316121-4.

Trischka, Tony, Wernick, Pete, (1988) ''Masters of the 5-String Banjo'', Oak Publications. ISBN 0-8256-0298-X.

Notes[link]

External links[link]

Official nonprofit partner of Great Smoky Mountains National Park archival recordings

Powergrass

Category:American folk music Category:Country music genres old-time * Category:Culture of the Southern United States Category:Appalachian culture

cs:Bluegrass cy:Canu'r Tir Glas da:Bluegrass de:Bluegrass es:Bluegrass eo:Blugreso fr:Bluegrass ko:블루그래스 is:Bluegrass it:Bluegrass he:בלוגראס nl:Bluegrass ja:ブルーグラス no:Bluegrass nn:Bluegrass oc:Bluegrass pl:Muzyka bluegrass pt:Bluegrass ru:Блюграсс scn:Bluegrass simple:Bluegrass music sl:Bluegrass fi:Bluegrass sv:Bluegrassmusik tr:Bluegrass uk:Блюграс zh:藍草音樂

Sweet Baby (originally known as Sweet Baby Jesus) was a pop punk band that originated from Berkeley, California, and was part of the 924 Gilman Street scene. They were signed to Ruby Records.

Formed in 1986 by singer Dallas Denery and singer/guitarist Matt Buenrostro with Crispy Jim (later of The Saddlebacks) on bass and Dr. Frank (the frontman of The Mr. T Experience) on drums. Frank and Crispy Jim did not appear on any Sweet Baby recordings, having been already replaced by Sergie Loobkoff (Samiam, Knapsack) and Richie Bucher (Jüke, Wynona Ryders), respectively. Aaron Elliott aka Aaron Cometbus also played drums for them on their 1989 US tour. They had two songs on the Maximum Rock and Roll compilation ''Turn it Around'' (1988), "She's from Salinas" and "Pathetic." In 1989, they released their only lp, ''It's A Girl'' on Ruby Records (a Slash/Warner subsidiary). Lookout Records re-released it in 1995.''''

In January 2005, their song, "Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby, I Love You" was featured on Bravo in an advertisement for the show ''Queer Eye for the Straight Girl''.

In 1989 due to Sweet Baby, Green Day changed their name from Sweet Children to Green Day for there to be no confusion before releasing their first EP 1,000 Hours.

Band members[link]

Dallas Denery is currently an assistant professor at Bowdoin College in the History Department and regularly broadcasts a radio show for WBOR 91.1 called "Dick and Jane's Cocktail Hour" with his wife and son "Spot." They generally play a "happy hour" of lounge music starting at 5:00pm and then an hour of independent rock on various weekdays.

External links[link]

Dallas Denery's homepage at Bowdoin College

Trouser Press's Sweet Baby Bio

A Dallas Denery Fan Bio and Interview

Larry Livermore on the Denery Brothers

Dallas Denery interview on Bowdoin Cable News

Category:Musical groups from California Category:Music of the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Musical groups established in 1986 Category:People from Berkeley, California Category:American pop punk musical groups

simple:Sweet Baby

name	Steve Martin
birth name	Stephen Glenn Martin
birth date	August 14, 1945
birth place	Waco, Texas, United States
medium	Concert, film, recordings, television, books
nationality	American
active	1967–present
genre	Surreal humor, Musical comedy, physical comedy, sketch comedy, Wit/word play Music: bluegrass
influences	British television, Red Skelton, Jerry Lewis, Jack Benny, Laurel and Hardy, Wally Boag
influenced	Judd Apatow, Will Arnett, Louis C.K., Stephen Colbert, Eddie Izzard, Patton Oswalt, Lucy Porter, Sarah Silverman, Jon Stewart
spouse	Victoria Tennant (1986–1994)Anne Stringfield (2007–present)
signature	SteveMartin.png
website	www.stevemartin.com
Child	yes
emmyawards	Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music1969 ''The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour''
grammyawards	Best Comedy Album1978 ''Let's Get Small''1979 ''A Wild and Crazy Guy''Best Country Instrumental Performance2002 ''Foggy Mountain Breakdown''Best Bluegrass Album2009 ''The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo''
americancomedyawards	Lifetime Achievement Award in Comedy2000 Lifetime Achievement
Awardtitle1	NYFCC Award for Best Actor
Award1	''All of Me'' (1984) }}

}} Stephen Glenn "Steve" Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, author, playwright, producer, musician and composer. Martin came to public notice as a writer for the ''Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour'', and later became a frequent guest on ''The Tonight Show''. In the 1970s, Martin performed his offbeat, absurdist comedy routines before packed houses on national tours. In 2004, Comedy Central ranked Martin at sixth place in a list of the 100 greatest stand-up comics.

Since the 1980s, having branched away from stand-up comedy, Martin has become a successful actor in both comedic and dramatic roles, as well as an author, playwright, pianist, and banjo player, eventually earning Emmy, Grammy, and American Comedy awards, among other honors.

Early life[link]

Martin was born in Waco, Texas, the son of Mary Lee (née Stewart) and Glenn Vernon Martin, a real estate salesman and aspiring actor. Martin was raised in Inglewood, California, and then later in Garden Grove, California, in a Baptist family. One of his earliest memories is of seeing his father, as an extra, serving drinks onstage at the Call Board Theatre on Melrose Place. During World War II, in England, Martin's father had appeared in a production of ''Our Town'' with Raymond Massey. Years later, he would write to Massey for help in Steve's fledgling career, but would receive no reply. Expressing his affection through gifts of cars, bikes, etc., Martin's father was stern, and not emotionally open to his son. He was proud but critical, with Martin later recalling that in his teens his feelings for his father were mostly ones of hatred. Martin's first job was at Disneyland, selling guidebooks on weekends and full-time during the summer school break. That lasted for three years (1955–1958). During his free time he frequented the Main Street Magic shop, where tricks were demonstrated to potential customers. By 1960, he had mastered several of the tricks and illusions, and took a paying job there in August. There he perfected his talents for magic, juggling, and creating balloon animals, frequently performing for tips. In his authorized biography, close friend Morris Walker suggests that Martin could "be described most accurately as an agnostic [...] he rarely went to church and was never involved in organized religion of his own volition".

Comedy[link]

After high school graduation, Martin attended Santa Ana Junior College, taking classes in drama and English poetry. In his free time, he teamed up with friend and Garden Grove High School classmate Kathy Westmoreland to participate in comedies and other productions at the Bird Cage Theatre. He joined a comedy troupe at Knott's Berry Farm. Later, he met budding actress Stormie Sherk, and they developed comedy routines and became romantically involved. Sherk's influence caused Martin to apply to the California State University, Long Beach, for enrollment with a major in Philosophy. Stormie enrolled at UCLA, about an hour's drive north, and the distance eventually caused them to lead separate lives.

Inspired by his philosophy classes, Martin considered becoming a professor instead of an actor-comedian. His time at college changed his life. "It changed what I believe and what I think about everything. I majored in philosophy. Something about non-sequiturs appealed to me. In philosophy, I started studying logic, and they were talking about cause and effect, and you start to realize, 'Hey, there is no cause and effect! There is no logic! There is no anything!' Then it gets real easy to write this stuff, because all you have to do is twist everything hard—you twist the punch line, you twist the non sequitur so hard away from the things that set it up". Martin recalls wondering in a psychology class "What if there were no punch lines? What if there were no indicators? What if I created tension and never released it? What if I headed for a climax, but all I delivered was an anticlimax? What would the audience do with all that tension? Theoretically, it would have to come out sometime. But if I kept denying them the formality of a punch line, the audience would eventually pick their own place to laugh, essentially out of desperation." Martin periodically spoofed his philosophy studies in his 1970s stand-up act, comparing philosophy with studying geology. "If you're studying geology, which is all facts, as soon as you get out of school you forget it all, but philosophy you remember just enough to screw you up for the rest of your life."

In 1967, Martin transferred to UCLA and switched his major to theater. While attending college, he appeared in an episode of ''The Dating Game''. Martin began working local clubs at night, to mixed notices, and at twenty-one he dropped out of college.

Career[link]

Early career – stand-up[link]

In 1967, his former girlfriend Nina Goldblatt, a dancer on ''The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour'', helped Martin land a writing job with the show by submitting his work to head writer Mason Williams. Williams initially paid Martin out of his own pocket. Along with the other writers for the show, Martin won an ''Emmy Award'' in 1969, aged 23. He also wrote for John Denver (a neighbor of his in Aspen, Colorado, at one point), ''The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour'', and ''The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.'' Martin's first TV appearance was on ''The Steve Allen Show'' in 1969. He says: "[I] appeared on ''The Virginia Graham Show,'' circa 1970. I looked grotesque. I had a hairdo like a helmet, which I blow-dried to a puffy bouffant, for reasons I no longer understand. I wore a frock coat and a silk shirt, and my delivery was mannered, slow and self-aware. I had absolutely no authority. After reviewing the show, I was depressed for a week." During these years his roommates included comedian Gary Mule Deer and singer/guitarist Michael Johnson. Martin opened for groups such as The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Carpenters, and Toto. He appeared at San Francisco's ''The Boarding House'', among other venues. He continued to write, earning an Emmy nomination for his work on ''Van Dyke and Company'' in 1976.

In the mid-1970s, Martin made frequent appearances as a stand-up comedian on ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson''., and on ''The Gong Show'', HBO's ''On Location'' and NBC's ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL''). ''SNL'''s audience jumped by a million viewers when he made guest appearances, though despite a common misconception, he was never a cast member. Martin has guest-hosted ''Saturday Night Live'' 15 times, bested only in number of presentations by host Alec Baldwin (who has hosted 16 times as of September 2011). On the show, Martin popularized the air quotes gesture, which uses four fingers to make double quote marks in the air. While on the show Martin became close with several of the cast members, including Gilda Radner. On the day Radner died of ovarian cancer in 1989, a visibly shaken Martin hosted ''SNL'' and featured footage of himself and Radner together in a 1978 sketch.

His TV appearances in the 1970s led to the release of comedy albums that went platinum. The track "Excuse Me" on his first album, ''Let's Get Small'', helped establish a national catch phrase. His next album, ''A Wild and Crazy Guy'' (1978), was an even bigger success, reaching the No.2 spot on the US sales chart, selling over a million copies. "Just a wild and crazy guy" became another of Martin's known catch phrases. The album featured a character based on a series of ''Saturday Night Live'' sketches where Martin and Dan Aykroyd played "Georgi" and "Yortuk" the Festrunk Brothers, a couple of bumbling Czechoslovak would-be playboys. The album ends with the song "King Tut", sung and written by Martin and backed by the "Toot Uncommons", members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. It was later released as a single, reaching No.17 on the US charts in 1978 and selling over a million copies. The song came out during the King Tut craze that accompanied the popular traveling exhibit of the Egyptian king's tomb artifacts. Both albums won Grammys for ''Best Comedy Recording'' in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Martin performed "King Tut" on the April 22, 1978, edition of ''SNL''.

On his comedy albums, Martin's stand-up is self-referential and sometimes self-mocking. It mixes philosophical riffs with sudden spurts of "happy feet", banjo playing with balloon depictions of concepts like venereal disease, and the controversial kitten juggling (he is a master juggler). His style is off-kilter and ironic, and sometimes pokes fun at stand-up comedy traditions, such as Martin opening his act (from ''A Wild and Crazy Guy'') by saying, "I think there's nothing better for a person to come up and do the same thing over and over for two weeks. This is what I enjoy, so I'm going to do the same thing over and over and over [...] I'm going to do the same joke over and over in the same show, it'll be like a new thing." Or: "Hello, I'm Steve Martin, and I'll be out here in a minute." In one comedy routine, used on the ''Comedy Is Not Pretty!'' album, Martin claimed that his real name was "Gern Blanston". The riff took on a life of its own. There is a Gern Blanston website, and for a time a rock band took the moniker as their name. He stopped stand-up in 1981 to concentrate on movies and never went back.

Acting career – film[link]

By the end of the 1970s, Martin had acquired the kind of following normally reserved for rock stars, with his tour appearances typically occurring at sold-out arenas filled with tens of thousands of screaming fans. But unknown to his audience, stand-up comedy was "just an accident" for him; his real goal was to get into film.

Martin's first film was a short, ''The Absent-Minded Waiter'' (1977). The seven-minute-long film, also featuring Buck Henry and Teri Garr, was written by and starred Martin. The film was nominated for an Academy Award as ''Best Short Film, Live Action''. He made his first feature film appearance in the musical ''Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'', where he sang The Beatles' "Maxwell's Silver Hammer". In 1979, Martin co-wrote and starred in his first full-length movie, ''The Jerk'', directed by Carl Reiner. The movie was a huge success, grossing over $100 million on a budget of approximately $4 million.

Stanley Kubrick met with him to discuss the possibility of Martin starring in a screwball comedy version of ''Traumnovelle'' (Kubrick later changed his approach to the material, the result of which was 1999's ''Eyes Wide Shut''). Martin was executive producer for ''Domestic Life'', a prime-time television series starring friend Martin Mull, and a late-night series called ''Twilight Theater''. It emboldened Martin to try his hand at his first serious film, ''Pennies from Heaven'', a movie he was anxious to perform in because of his desire to avoid being typecast. To prepare for that film, Martin took acting lessons from director Herbert Ross, and spent months learning how to tap dance. The film was a financial failure; Martin's comment at the time was "I don't know what to blame, other than it's me and not a comedy."

Martin was in three more Reiner-directed comedies after ''The Jerk'': ''Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid'' in 1982, ''The Man with Two Brains'' in 1983 and ''All of Me'' in 1984, possibly his most critically acclaimed comic performance to date. In 1986, Martin joined fellow ''Saturday Night Live'' veterans Martin Short and Chevy Chase in ''¡Three Amigos!'', directed by John Landis, and written by Martin, Lorne Michaels, and singer-songwriter Randy Newman. It was originally entitled ''The Three Caballeros'' and Martin was to be teamed with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. In 1986, Martin was in the movie musical film version of the hit Off-Broadway play ''Little Shop of Horrors'' (based on a famous B-movie), playing the sadistic dentist, Orin Scrivello. The film was the first of three films teaming Martin with Rick Moranis. In 1987, Martin joined comedian John Candy in the John Hughes movie ''Planes, Trains & Automobiles.'' That same year, ''Roxanne'', the film adaptation of ''Cyrano de Bergerac'' which Martin co-wrote, won him a Writers Guild of America, East award. It also garnered recognition from Hollywood and the public that he was more than a comedian. In 1988, he performed in the Frank Oz film ''Dirty Rotten Scoundrels'', a remake of ''Bedtime Story'', alongside Michael Caine.

Martin starred in the Ron Howard film ''Parenthood'', with Moranis in 1989. He later met with Moranis to make the Mafia comedy ''My Blue Heaven'' in 1990. In 1991, Martin starred in and wrote ''L.A. Story'', a romantic comedy, in which the female lead was played by his then-wife Victoria Tennant. Martin also appeared in Lawrence Kasdan's ''Grand Canyon'', in which he played the tightly-wound Hollywood film producer, Davis, who was recovering from a traumatic robbery that left him injured, which was a more serious role for him. Martin also appeared in a remake of the comedy ''Father of the Bride'' in 1991 (followed by a sequel in 1995). He starred in the 1992 comedy ''HouseSitter'', with Goldie Hawn and Dana Delany.

In David Mamet's 1997 thriller, ''The Spanish Prisoner'', Martin played a darker role as a wealthy stranger who takes a suspicious interest in the work of a young businessman (Campbell Scott). He went on to star with Eddie Murphy in the 1999 comedy ''Bowfinger,'' which Martin also wrote. He appeared in a version of ''Waiting for Godot'' as Vladimir, with Robin Williams as Estragon and Bill Irwin as Lucky. In 1998, Martin guest starred with U2 in the 200th episode of ''The Simpsons'' titled "Trash of the Titans", providing the voice for sanitation commissioner Ray Patterson. In 1999, Martin and Hawn starred in a remake of the 1970 Neil Simon comedy, ''The Out-of-Towners''. By 2003, Martin ranked 4th on the box office stars list, after starring in ''Bringing Down The House'' and ''Cheaper By The Dozen'', each of which earned over $130 million at U.S. theaters. That same year, he also played the villainous Mr. Chairman in the animation/live action blend, ''Looney Tunes: Back in Action''.

Martin wrote and starred in ''Shopgirl'' (2005), based on his own novella (2000), and starred in ''Cheaper by the Dozen 2''. He also starred in the box office hit ''The Pink Panther'' in 2006, standing in Peter Sellers's shoes as the bumbling Inspector Clouseau, a role which he reprised in 2009's ''The Pink Panther 2''. In ''Baby Mama'' (2008), he played the founder of a health food company, and in ''It's Complicated'' (2009), he played opposite Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. In 2009, an article in ''The Guardian'' listed Martin as one of the best actors never to receive an Oscar nomination.

He appeared with Jack Black, Owen Wilson, and JoBeth Williams in the birdwatching comedy ''The Big Year'', in 2011.

Writing[link]

In 1993, Martin wrote his first full length play ''Picasso at the Lapin Agile''. The first reading of the play took place in Beverly Hills, California at Steve Martin's home, with Tom Hanks reading the role of Pablo Picasso and Chris Sarandon reading the role of Albert Einstein. Following this, the play opened at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois, and played from October 1993 to May 1994, then went on to run successfully in Los Angeles, New York City and several other US cities. In 2009, the La Grande, Oregon school board refused to allow the play to be performed after several parents complained about the content. In an open letter in the local ''Observer'' newspaper, Martin wrote "I have heard that some in your community have characterized the play as 'people drinking in bars, and treating women as sex objects.' With apologies to William Shakespeare, this is like calling ''Hamlet'' a play about a castle [...] I will finance a non-profit, off-high school campus production [...] so that individuals, outside the jurisdiction of the school board but within the guarantees of freedom of expression provided by the Constitution of the United States can determine whether they will or will not see the play".

Throughout the 1990s, Martin wrote various pieces for ''The New Yorker''. In 2002, he adapted the Carl Sternheim play ''The Underpants'', which ran Off Broadway at Classic Stage Company and in 2008, co-wrote and produced ''Traitor'', starring Don Cheadle. He has also written the novellas, ''Shopgirl'' (2000), and ''The Pleasure of My Company'' (2003), both more wry in tone than raucous. A story of a 28-year-old woman behind the glove counter at the Neiman Marcus department store in Beverly Hills, ''Shopgirl'' was made into a film starring Martin and Claire Danes. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2005 and was featured at the Chicago International Film Festival and the Austin Film Festival before going into limited release in the US. In 2007, he published a memoir, ''Born Standing Up'', which ''TIME'' magazine named as one of the Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2007, ranking it at #6, and praising it as "a funny, moving, surprisingly frank memoir." In 2010, he published the novel ''An Object of Beauty.''

Hosting[link]

Martin hosted Academy Awards solo in 2001 and 2003 and with Alec Baldwin in 2010. In 2005, Martin co-hosted ''Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years'', marking the park's anniversary. Disney continued to run the show until March 2009, which now plays in the lobby of ''Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln''.

Music[link]

Martin first picked up the banjo when he was around 17 years of age. Martin has claimed in several interviews and in his autobiography, "Born Standing Up", that he used to take 33 rpm bluegrass records and slow them down to 16 rpm and tune his banjo down, so the notes would sound the same. Martin was able to pick out each note, and perfect his playing.

Martin learned how to play the banjo with help from John McEuen, who later joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. McEuen's brother later managed Martin as well as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Martin did his stand-up routine opening for the band in the early 1970s. He had the band play on his hit song, "King Tut", being credited as "The Toot Uncommons" (as in Tutankhamun).

The banjo was a staple of Martin's 1970s stand-up career, and he periodically poked fun at his love for the instrument. On the ''Comedy Is Not Pretty!'' album he included an all-instrumental jam, titled "Drop Thumb Medley", and played the track on his 1979 concert tour. His final comedy album, ''The Steve Martin Brothers'' (1981), featured one side of Martin's typical stand-up material, with the other side featuring live performances of Steve playing banjo with a bluegrass band.

In 2001, he played banjo on Earl Scruggs's remake of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". The recording was the winner of the Best Country Instrumental Performance category at the following year's Grammys. In 2008, Martin appeared with the band, In the Minds of the Living, during a show in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

In 2009, Martin released his first all-music album, ''The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo'' with appearances from stars such as Dolly Parton. The album won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2010. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member John McEuen produced the album.

Martin made his first appearance on The Grand Ole Opry on May 30, 2009. In the ''American Idol'' season eight finals, he performed alongside Michael Sarver and Megan Joy in the song "Pretty Flowers". In June, Martin played banjo along with the Steep Canyon Rangers on ''A Prairie Home Companion'', and began a two-month U.S. tour with the Rangers in September, including an appearances at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival, Carnegie Hall and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. In November, they went on to play at the Royal Festival Hall in London with support from Mary Black. In 2010, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers appeared at the New Orleans Jazzfest, Merlefest Bluegrass Festival in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, at Bonnaroo Music Festival, at the ROMP Bluegrass festival in Owensboro, Kentucky, at the Red Butte Garden Concert series and on the BBC's ''Later... with Jools Holland''. Martin performed "Jubilation Day" with the Steep Canyon Rangers on ''The Colbert Report'' on March 21, 2011, on ''Conan'' on May 3, 2011, and on BBC's ''The One Show'' on July 6, 2011. Martin performed a song he wrote called "Me and Paul Revere" in addition to two other songs on the lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, at the "Capitol Fourth Celebration" on July 4, 2011.

Personal life[link]

Martin was romantically involved with actress and singer Bernadette Peters, his costar in the films ''The Jerk'' and ''Pennies from Heaven'', during the 1970s and early 1980s. He married actress Victoria Tennant on November 20, 1986, and the union lasted until 1994. On July 28, 2007, after three years together, Martin married Anne Stringfield, a writer and former staffer for ''The New Yorker'' magazine. Former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey presided over the ceremony at Martin's Los Angeles home. Lorne Michaels, creator of ''Saturday Night Live'', was best man. Several of the guests, including close friends Tom Hanks, Eugene Levy, comedian Carl Reiner, and magician/actor Ricky Jay were not informed that a wedding ceremony would take place. Instead, they were told they were invited to a party, and were surprised by the nuptials.

Investigators at Berlin's state criminal police office (LKA) think that Martin was one victim of a German art forgery scandal. In July 2004 Martin purchased what he believed to be a 1915 work by the German-Dutch painter Heinrich Campendonk, "Landschaft mit Pferden", or "Landscape With Horses", from a Paris gallery for what should have been a bargain price in the neighborhood of €700,000 (around $850,000 at the time). Before the purchase an expert authenticated the work and identified the painter's signature on a label attached to the back. Fifteen months later Martin put the painting up for sale, and auction house Christie's disposed of it in February 2006 to a Swiss businesswoman for €500,000 – a loss of €200,000. Police believe the fake Campendonk originated from an invented art collection devised by a group of German swindlers caught in 2010. Skillfully forged paintings from this group were sold to French galleries like the one where Martin bought the forgery.

Awards and honors[link]

1969 Emmy Award – The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (with other writers)

1978 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album – ''Let's Get Small'' 1979 Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album – ''A Wild and Crazy Guy''. 1989 Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from California State University Long Beach 2001 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance with Earl Scruggs (and others) – banjo performance of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown".

2005 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

2005 Disney Legend award

2007 30th Annual Kennedy Center Honors

2009 Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album for his album ''The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo''.

2011 International Bluegrass Music Association's Entertainer of the Year.

Written works by Martin[link]

''The Jerk'' (1979) (Screenplay written with Carl Gottlieb)

''Cruel Shoes'' (1979) (Essays)

''Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Other Plays: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, the Zig-Zag Woman, Patter for the Floating Lady, WASP'' (1996) (Play)

''L.A. Story and Roxanne: Two Screenplays'' (published together in 1997) (Screenplays)

''Pure Drivel'' (1998) (Stories)

''Bowfinger'' (1999) (Screenplay)

''Eric Fischl : 1970–2000'' (2000) (Afterword)

''Modern Library Humor and Wit Series'' (2000) (Introduction and Series Editor)

''Shopgirl'' (2000) (Novella)

''Kindly Lent Their Owner: The Private Collection of Steve Martin'' (2001) (Art)

''The Underpants: A Play'' (2002) (Play)

''The Pleasure of My Company'' (2003) (Novel)

''The Alphabet from A to Y with Bonus Letter Z'' (2007) (Children's Books illustrated by Roz Chast)

''Born Standing Up'' (2007) (Memoir)

''An Object of Beauty'' (2010) (Novel)

''Late For School'' (2010) (Children's book)

''The Ten, Make That Nine, Habits of Very Organized People. Make That Ten.: The Tweets of Steve Martin'' (February 21, 2012) (Collection)

Released stand-up shows[link]

''Steve Martin-Live!'' (1986, VHS)

''Saturday Night Live: The Best Of Steve Martin'' (1998, DVD)

Filmography [link]

Year	! Film	! Role	! Notes
1956	''Disneyland Dream''		Documentary
1977	''The Absent-Minded Waiter''		Short Subject
1978		Dr. Maxwell Edison
	''The Muppet Movie''	Insolent Waiter
		Documentary
''The Jerk''	Navin R. Johnson	Also Writer
1981		Arthur	Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1982	''Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid''	Rigby Reardon
1983	''The Man with Two Brains''	Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr
	''The Lonely Guy''	Larry Hubbard
	Roger Cobb	National Society of Film Critics Award for Best ActorNew York Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActorNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1985	''Movers & Shakers''	Fabio Longio
	''Three Amigos''	Lucky Day	Also Writer and Executive Producer
	Orin Scrivello, DDS	Billed as "Special Appearance"
		C.D. Bales	Also Writer and Executive ProducerLos Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best ActorNational Society of Film Critics Award for Best ActorWriters Guild of America Award for Best Adapted ScreenplayNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
''Planes, Trains and Automobiles''	Neal Page
1988		Freddy Benson
1989		Gil Buckman	Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
1990		Vinnie Antonelli
	''L.A. Story''	Harris K. Telemacher	Also Writer and Executive Producer
	George Banks
	Davis
	''HouseSitter''	Newton Davis
	Jonas Nightengale
1993		The Brother	Cameo
	''A Simple Twist of Fate''	Michael McCann	Also Writer and Executive Producer
''Mixed Nuts''	Philip
1995	''Father of the Bride Part II''	George Banks
1996	''Sgt. Bilko''	Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko
1997	''The Spanish Prisoner''	Jimmy Dell
1998	''The Prince of Egypt''	Hotep	Voice
		Henry Clark
''Bowfinger''	Bobby Bowfinger	Also writer
''The Venice Project''		Cameo
''Fantasia 2000''	Introductory Host	Disney Re-Release
2000		Charlie Duell
2001		Frank Sangster
	2002	''Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour ''		As himself
		Peter Sanderson
''Looney Tunes: Back in Action''	Mr. Chairman
	Tom Baker
	''Jiminy Glick in Lalawood''
	''Shopgirl''	Ray Porter	Also Writer and Producer
''Cheaper by the Dozen 2''	Tom Baker
''Disneyland: The First 50 Magical Years''		As himself
2006		Inspector Clouseau	A remake of the earlier series
		Barry
		Writer and Producer
	''The Pink Panther 2''	Inspector Clouseau	Also ScreenplayNominated - Golden Raspberry Award
	Adam Schaffer
2011	''[[The Big Year''	Stu Preissler

Discography [link]

Albums [link]

Album	Year	Peak chart positions		! scope="col" rowspan="2"
		! scope="col" style="width:5.5em;font-size:90%;"	! scope="col" style="width:5.5em;font-size:90%;"
''Let's Get Small''	1977	10	—		*US: Platinum
''A Wild and Crazy Guy''	1978	2	—		*US: 2× Platinum
! scope="row"	1978	5	—		*US: Platinum
''Comedy Is Not Pretty!''	1979	25	—		*US: Gold
''The Steve Martin Brothers''	1981	135	—
! scope="row"	1986	—	—
''The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo''	2009	93	1
''Rare Bird Alert''	2011	43	1

Singles [link]

Single	Year	Peak chart positions
		! scope="col" style="width:5em;font-size:90%;"
"Grandmother's Song"	1977	72
! scope="row"	1978	17
"Cruel Shoes"	1979	91

Music videos [link]

Video	Year	Director
"Jubilation Day"	2011	Ryan Reichenfeld

TV specials[link]

Title	Year	Network
"Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy"	1978	NBC
"All Commercials... A Steve Martin Special"	1980	NBC
"Steve Martin: Comedy is Not Pretty"	1980	NBC
"Steve Martin's Best Show Ever"	1981	NBC
"The Winds of Whoopie"	1983	NBC

References[link]

Sources[link]

Martin, Steve. (2007) ''Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life''. Scribner. ISBN 1-4165-5364-9.

Walker, Morris (1999) ''Steve Martin: The Magic Years''. SPI Books. ISBN 1-56171-980-3.

External links[link]

in 2008. Article and radio file in 2003. Radio file. Video of interview

''Men's Vogue'' article

Disney Legends profile

Category:1945 births Category:20th-century actors Category:21st-century actors Category:Actors from California Category:Actors from Texas Category:American banjoists Category:American buskers Category:American comedy musicians Category:American dramatists and playwrights Category:American film actors Category:American memoirists Category:American screenwriters Category:American stand-up comedians Category:California State University, Long Beach alumni Category:Emmy Award winners Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Kennedy Center honorees Category:Living people Category:Mark Twain Prize recipients Category:People from Garden Grove, California Category:People from Inglewood, California Category:People from Waco, Texas Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners

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name	Earl Scruggs
background	solo_singer
birth name	Earl Eugene Scruggs
birth date	January 06, 1924
death date	March 28, 2012
death place	Nashville, Tennessee
origin	Shelby, North Carolina, U.S.
instrument	5-string banjo, guitar
genre	Bluegrass, country, gospel
occupation	Bluegrass artist
years active	1945–2012
label	MCA Nashville Records
associated acts	Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, Flatt and Scruggs, Earl Scruggs Revue
website	earlscruggs.com
notable instruments	A 1934 Gibson Granada previously owned by Don Reno and Snuffy Jenkins, and "Nellie", a 1935 Gibson RB-3 flathead }}

Earl Eugene Scruggs (January 6, 1924 – March 28, 2012) was an American musician noted for perfecting and popularizing a three-finger banjo-picking style (now called "Scruggs style") that is a defining characteristic of bluegrass music. Although other musicians had played in three-finger style before him, Scruggs shot to prominence when he was hired by Bill Monroe to fill the banjo slot in his group, the Blue Grass Boys.

Early life[link]

Scruggs was born near Shelby, Cleveland County, North Carolina, to Georgia Lula Ruppe and George Elam Scruggs, a farmer and bookkeeper, who played banjo and died when Earl Scruggs was only 4. His older brothers Junie and Horace, plus his two older sisters Eula Mae and Ruby Scruggs all played banjo and guitar. Earl Scruggs mother played the organ. He grew up in Cleveland County, North Carolina.

Career[link]

Scruggs joined Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in late 1945, and quickly popularized his syncopated, three-finger picking style. In 1948 Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt left Monroe's band and formed the Foggy Mountain Boys, also later known simply as Flatt and Scruggs. In 1969, they broke up, and he started a new band, the Earl Scruggs Revue, featuring several of his sons.

On September 24, 1962, singer Jerry Scoggins, Lester Flatt and Scruggs recorded "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" for the TV show ''The Beverly Hillbillies'', which was released October 12, 1962. The theme song became an immediate country music hit and was played at the beginning and end of each episode. Flatt and Scruggs appeared in several episodes as family friends of the Clampetts in the following years. In their first appearance (season 1 episode 20), they portray themselves in the show and perform both the theme song and "Pearl Pearl Pearl".

On November 15, 1969, Scruggs played his Grammy-winning "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" on an open-air stage in Washington, D.C., at the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, becoming one of the very few bluegrass or country-western artists to give support to the anti-war movement. In an interview after his performance, Scruggs said:

I think the people in the South is just as concerned as the people that's walkin' the streets here today ... I'm sincere about bringing our boys back home. I'm disgusted and in sorrow about the boys we've lost over there. And if I could see a good reason to continue, I wouldn't be here today.

In January 1973, a tribute concert was held for Scruggs in Manhattan, Kansas. Among the artists playing were Joan Baez, David Bromberg, The Byrds, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Doc and Merle Watson. The concert was filmed and turned into the 1975 documentary film ''Banjoman''.

Awards and honors[link]

Flatt and Scruggs won a Grammy Award in 1969 for Scruggs' instrumental "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". They were inducted together into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1985. In 1989, Scruggs was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship. He was an inaugural inductee into the International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor in 1991. In 1992, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts. In 1994, Scruggs teamed up with Randy Scruggs and Doc Watson to contribute the song "Keep on the Sunny Side" to the AIDS benefit album ''Red Hot + Country'' produced by the Red Hot Organization. In 2002 Scruggs won a second Grammy award for the 2001 recording of "Foggy Mountain Breakdown", which featured artists such as Steve Martin on 2nd banjo solo (Martin played the banjo tune on his 1970s stand-up comic acts), Vince Gill and Albert Lee on electric guitar solos, Paul Shaffer on piano, Leon Russell on organ, and Marty Stuart on mandolin. The album, ''Earl Scruggs and Friends'', also featured artists such as John Fogerty, Elton John, Sting, Johnny Cash, Don Henley, Travis Tritt, and Billy Bob Thornton.

On February 13, 2003, Scruggs received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That same year, he and Flatt were ranked No. 24 on ''CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music''.

On September 13, 2006, Scruggs was honored at Turner Field in Atlanta as part of the pre-game show for an Atlanta Braves home game. Organizers set a world record for the most banjo players (239) playing one tune together (Scruggs' "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"). On February 10, 2008, Scruggs was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

Personal life[link]

Scruggs' wife and manager, Louise, died on February 2, 2006, aged 78, at Nashville's Baptist Hospital following a lengthy illness.

Death and Funeral[link]

Scruggs died from natural causes on the morning of March 28, 2012, in a Nashville hospital. His funeral was held on Sunday, April 1, 2012 at the Ryman Auditorium, former home of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee at 2pm and was open to the public. He was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery in a private service.

Around 2,300 of Scruggs’ loved ones, friends, and fans were present at his funeral, in the same building where he recorded his final album. The two-hour funeral service celebrated Scruggs with speeches and performances by some of bluegrass’s biggest stars. Scruggs’ five-string Gibson Mastertone banjo rested in its stand on the stage during the funeral.

Grand Ole Opry announcer Eddie Stubbs gave the eulogy at Scrugg’s funeral, which was followed by a performance of Scruggs and Flatt song Who Will Sing For Me, a song that fittingly was about death. The longest ovation of the night went to Scruggs, who was carried from the auditorium in a silver-colored casket. He was buried at Spring Hill Cemetery which is the final resting place of many legendary country music performers.

Legacy[link]

At an 80th birthday party for Mr. Scruggs in 2004, country singer Porter Wagoner said, “Earl was to the five-string banjo what Babe Ruth was to baseball.”

“He is the best there ever was,” Mr. Wagoner said, “and the best there ever will be.”

Discography[link]

Albums[link]

Year	Single	Chart Positions
		! style="width:60px;"	! style="width:60px;"	! style="width:60px;"	! style="width:60px;"
1967	''Strictly Instrumental'' (with Lester Flatt and Doc Watson)
1967	''5 String Banjo Instruction Album''
1968	''The Story of Bonnie and Clyde'' (with Lester Flatt and the Foggy Mountain Boys)
1969	''Changin' Times''
1970	''Nashville Airplane''
	''I Saw the Light with Some Help from My Friends''
''Earl Scruggs: His Family and Friends''
''Live at Kansas State''
	''Rockin' 'Cross the Country''
''Dueling Banjos''
''The Earl Scruggs Revue''
1975	''Anniversary Special''
	''The Earl Scruggs Revue 2''
''Family Portrait''
	''Live from Austin City Limits''
''Strike Anywhere''
1978	''Bold & New''
1979	''Today & Forever''
	''Storyteller and the Banjo Man'' (with Tom T. Hall)
''Flatt & Scruggs''
1983	''Top of the World''
1984	''Superjammin'''
1998	''Artist's Choice: The Best Tracks (1970–1980)''
2001	''Earl Scruggs and Friends''
2002	''Classic Bluegrass Live: 1959-1966''
2003	''Three Pickers'' (with Doc Watson and Ricky Skaggs)
2004	''The Essential Earl Scruggs''
2005	''Live with Donnie Allen and Friends''
2007	''Lifetimes: Lewis, Scruggs, and Long''

Singles[link]

Year	Single	Chart Positions		Album
		! style="width:50px;"	CAN Country
1970	"Nashville Skyline Rag"			''Earl Scruggs: His Family and Friends''
	"I Sure Could Use the Feeling"			Single only
"Play Me No Sad Songs"
1980	"Blue Moon of Kentucky"
	"There Ain't No Country Music on This Jukebox"(with Tom T. Hall)

Guest singles[link]

Year	Single	Artist	Chart Positions	Album
			US Country
1998	"Same Old Train"	Various Artists

Music videos[link]

! Year	! Video	! Director
1992	"The Dirt Road" (with Sawyer Brown)	Michael Salomon
2001	"Foggy Mountain Breakdown" (Earl Scruggs and Friends)	Gerry Wenner

DVDs[link]

Earl ScruggsHis Family and Friends (2005)

:(Recorded 1969. Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Bill Monroe, Joan Baez et al.)

Private Sessions (2005)

The Bluegrass Legend (2006)

Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson and Ricky Skaggs

The Three Pickers (2003)

Flatt and Scruggs

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show Vol 1 (2007)

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show Vol 2 (2007)

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show Vol 3 (2007)

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show Vol 4 (2007)

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show Vol 5 (2008)

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show Vol 6 (2008)

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show Vol 7 (2009)

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show Vol 8 (2009)

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show Vol 9 (2010)

The Best of Flatt and Scruggs TV Show Vol 10 (2010)

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

Rosenberg, Neil V. (1998). "Flatt & Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys". In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 173–4.

Willis, Barry R. "Biography of Earl Scruggs". Retrieved October 5, 2008.

Lifetime Honors – National Medal of Arts

External links[link]

Official Website

Interview with www.CountryMusicPride.com Interview with www.CountryMusicPride.com

at the Country Music Hall of Fame

on MCA Nashville

on Rounder Records

Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Los Angeles Times obituary

Category:1924 births Category:2012 deaths Category:American bluegrass musicians Category:International Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor inductees Category:National Heritage Fellowship winners Category:United States National Medal of Arts recipients Category:Musicians from North Carolina Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners Category:American anti–Vietnam War activists Category:American country banjoists Category:People from Shelby, North Carolina

cs:Earl Scruggs cy:Earl Scruggs de:Earl Scruggs eo:Earl Scruggs fr:Earl Scruggs it:Earl Scruggs nl:Earl Scruggs pl:Earl Scruggs pt:Earl Scruggs ru:Скраггс, Эрл fi:Earl Scruggs sv:Earl Scruggs

Randall Franks is an award-winning bluegrass singer and musician who plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar and mountain dulcimer. He was recognized by the International Bluegrass Music Museum in 2010 as a Bluegrass Legend; inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004; and was designated the "Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle."

TV and movies[link]

As TV’s “Officer Randy Goode” on the hit series ''In the Heat of the Night'', he appeared for five years on NBC and CBS and now on WGN America and was seen in 150 countries around the world. Franks returned full force into acting in 2011 with five films in nine months. He starred with Natalie Grant and Billy Dean as "Principal Nate Foster" in the 2011 film "Decision." He also appeared for director John Hillcoat with Mia Wasikowska, Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy and Jason Clarke in the upcoming 2012 feature "The Wettest County in the World (film)." He made a special appearance in children's adventure "The Solomon Bunch" as "Edgar Albert." He stars with John Schneider (television actor), Bill Cobbs, Nicole Anderson and Jenna Von Oy in the 2012 film "Lukewarm." The specifics of his fifth film are currently not released. His earlier work includes the Hallmark Hall of Fame’s “The Flamingo Rising” in which he co-starred with Academy Award winner William Hurt as “Officer Randy Kraft.” He starred in the sci-fi thriller “Phoenix Falling” with Stella Parton, in the Vietnam War era action adventure “Firebase 9.” He also made a special appearance in Dolly Parton’s “Blue Valley Songbird” for Lifetime. Franks began his movie career with a singing role in the movie “Desperate For Love” with Christian Slater. After taking a hiatus from film and dramatic television, he returned in 2009 as attorney Alvin Potter for "Robert Townsend's Musical Theater of Hope" a special for America's GMC cable. For more information visit http://randallfranks.com/.

Franks hosted and directed the PBS documentary “Still Ramblin’” highlighting the life of Georgia singing cowboy and early Grand Ole Opry star Ramblin’ “Doc” Tommy Scott.

His Crimson CD “God’s Children” pays homage to the brother duets of the 1930s. The project includes appearances by David Davis, Sonny Shroyer, “Enos” from the “Dukes of Hazzard,” the late Cotton and Jane Carrier and Marty Hays. The single “Children In Need,” co-written by Franks and Tommy Scott, featured a performance with Sonny Shroyer reminding listeners of the importance of helping the children in one’s community through a whimsical tale told by “Ollie the Old Church Owl” portrayed by Shroyer.

Author[link]

Franks co-authored “Stirring Up Success with a Southern Flavor” with Shirley Smith, executive director for the Catoosa County Learning Center. The cookbook incorporates celebrities, center stories and Catoosa County history and photos to assist with the fundraising project for the center. The book yielded the program over $27,000 in 2004. With the 2007 release of "Snake Oil, Superstars, and Me," the autobiography of Ramblin' "Doc" Tommy Scott, Franks joined Scott and fellow co-author Shirley Noe Swiesz in completing the 700-page project highlighting Scott's 90 years on the stage, film and television. Franks is currently working on three other books, one featuring stories of his experiences in entertainment and another reflecting the Appalachian upbringing of his late mother and a sequel to the literacy cookbook mentioned above. Smith and Franks partnered again in 2009 for a sequel "Stirring Up Additional Success with a Southern Flavor" with even more celebrities to raise more for the Catoosa County Learning Center.

Early musical experiences[link]

As a child, Franks was exposed to the rich heritage of Georgia fiddlin’ at family reunions. Franks’ desire to learn was sparked at the age of eight when he heard the “Orange Blossom Special” by Ervin Rouse. He was inspired to study both classically with Donald Grisier, Ph.D. and at the feet of some of Georgia’s fiddle legends such as the Skillet Licker Gordon Tanner, WSB Barndance host Cotton Carrier, Anita Sorrells Mathis and Dallas Burrell.

While still in school, Franks formed the children’s bluegrass band The Peachtree Pickers. It was through this act that he gained attention from national acts and television becoming a regular on the “Country Kids TV Series” and appearing for the Grand Ole Opry. The group released five albums.

To support the group’s efforts Franks started a Randall “Randy” Franks Peachtree Picker Fan Club, coordinated by Pearl Bruce. The club grew to include around 8,000 fans by 1986 rivaling and exceeding those of top country stars of the period. Franks created “The Pickin’Post” newsletter to keep the large group of fans informed sharing info on his career as well as Southern bluegrass festivals and other groups. The club also launched “The Singing Post” for fans exclusively interested in gospel music. The club grew even more dramatically during Franks' success on television. After more than 25 years, “The Pickin Post” continues to keep fans informed three times each year from P.O. Box 42, Tunnel Hill, Ga. 30755.

Bill Monroe[link]

In the 1980s, The Father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe took a special interest in the young band and especially the young fiddler. Monroe spent hours teaching and sharing with Franks much like Monroe’s Uncle Pen had done for him. With the departure of Kenny Baker, Franks was asked to join the Bluegrass Boys. Still in school, he took off to tour from coast to coast. Though school beckoned him back, Franks continued to make appearances with Monroe up until he stopped touring. For his contributions to the work of Bill Monroe, Franks was honored by the state of Kentucky.

Disc jockey and artist credits[link]

While in college, Franks became part of the cast of the WRFG radio show “The Bluegrass Festival,” hosted by T.P. and Sandra Hollomon. As part of the highest-rated bluegrass show in the Atlanta market, Franks participated on the weekly broadcast and occasionally filled in for the hosts. He also from time to time, hosted his own shows on WRFG. In the early 1990s, he hosted “Sacred Sounds” featuring bluegrass gospel on WGFS in Covington, Ga. He now hosts "Sacred Sounds Fridays Live" on WBFCFM.com in Ringgold, Ga. Wednesday nights at 9 p.m. and Fridays at 9 a.m.

With more than 200 recordings to his credit, his music has brought him on stage or in the studio to perform with entertainers in a variety of music fields: Carl Perkins; Charlie Daniels; Peabo Bryson; The Whites; Ricky Skaggs; Kitty Wells; Pee Wee King; Jimmy Dickens; Jeff and Sheri Easter; The Lewis Family; The Isaacs; The Primitive Quartet; Bill Monroe; Jim and Jesse; Ralph Stanley; Raymond Fairchild; Jimmy Martin; Mac Wiseman; Chubby Wise; Josh Graves; Doug Dillard; Jerry Douglas; Sam Bush; Byron Berline; The Warrior River Boys; The Sand Mountain Boys; The Gary Waldrep Band; The Cox Family; The Sidemen; Elaine and Shorty; “Doc” Tommy Scott’s Last Real Old Time Medicine Show.

Franks was also tapped by two other nationally known performers: Folk Music’s Doodle and the Golden River Grass, with whom Franks carried on the Georgia Fiddle Band tradition; and multi-award–winning gospel quartet, The Marksmen, who Franks long admired for their vocal artistry.

SEBA and fostering bluegrass[link]

Franks founded the SouthEastern Bluegrass Association (SEBA) in 1984 to preserve, promote and publicize Bluegrass Music. Through the organization which has grown to one of the country’s largest he supported the creation of the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA).

Franks saw a bluegrass void in some areas in his home state of Georgia so in the mid 1980s he began promoting bluegrass concerts using regional talent in communities that did not have bluegrass events nearby to increase the visibility of the field outside bluegrass festivals. He carried this endeavor one step farther during his off time from “In the Heat of the Night” when he began the “Share with D.A.R.E.” (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) concert series held in communities in several states featuring acts including Jim and Jesse, The Lewis Family, the Osborne Brothers himself and others. The shows showcased bluegrass stars while raising awareness and funds for a program to help keep children off drugs.

Recording executive[link]

In 1989, Franks released “Golden River Fiddlin’” to the Folk and Bluegrass markets. SPBGMA, the Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music in America, said Franks had a “Special Touch on the fiddle” while Bluegrass Unlimited called him “Hard Driving…Straightahead..Solid…Sure” like Tommy Jackson and Paul Warren.

Franks studied commercial music while pursuing his bachelor’s degree in business administration at Georgia State University. Upon graduation, he entered a position as Sales and Promotions Manager for Atlanta based MBM Records. He quickly discovered that independent bluegrass and gospel music recordings were difficult to market amongst mainstream retailers but he set out to make the music he loved available in as many outlets as he could.

As he rose in popularity on television, he used his celebrity status to break down the barriers that he previously faced as a record executive and many other bluegrass and gospel artists encountered by calling mainstream and Christian retail buyers and store managers directly using his podium from NBC and CBS to assist record companies and distributors in marketing his and other bluegrass and gospel product.

Through the effort his products and many other artists sold by the companies he worked with became available in record chains throughout the country.

At a time when the industry was made of largely of established stars rather than rising new performers, Franks joined fellow rising star Alison Krauss as the most visible fiddlers and personalities of the industry in the late eighties and early nineties.

With Franks’ widespread notoriety he gained by weekly network exposure, he worked to expose bluegrass and Southern Gospel to this new audience appearing on radio and television talk, news and entertainment shows. Franks continues to appear on radio stations in all formats, television stations throughout the country, gives countless print interviews talking about and sharing the music he loves.

Inspiring the youth[link]

He also carried this message to America’s youth as an Honorary D.A.R.E. Officer appointed by the National Dare Officers Association, he has appeared for more than 10,000 students across the country to encourage them to live a successful drug-free life while also sharing his love of bluegrass music to a new generation of listeners. He coordinated a nationwide radio campaign featuring Alan Autry, David Hart and himself to encourage a drug-free life.

Franks began the 1990s as he crossed over to the Southern Gospel market being the first bluegrass performer to take his solo music project “Handshakes and Smiles” to the Top 20 Sales Charts. Singing News gave it “Four Stars”.

In the Heat of the Night Christmas[link]

Serving both as an artist and producer, Randall Franks and his ''In the Heat of the Night'' co-star Alan Autry joined forces under the banner of Autry-Franks Productions to produce the charity "In the Heat of the Night" CD "Christmas Time's A Comin'" featuring the cast of the show. The project raised funds for drug abuse prevention charities.

With Franks producing, Autry performed his rendition of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" in homage to Gene Autry. Franks performed an original song with Grand Ole Opry stars The Whites entitled "Let's Live Everyday Like It was Christmas." The duo both performed 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.

Jim and Jesse and the Virginia Boys[link]

In addition to his own concert and personal appearances in the early 1990s, Franks became part of the Grand Ole Opry’s Jim and Jesse Show in 1990 appearing at concerts and festivals intermittently with the Bluegrass Hall of Fame members until 1996.

Franks formed his Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree in the early 1990s, bringing his unique style of bluegrass into fairs, festivals and communities not normally including bluegrass in their annual celebrations. His show packages included a variety of stars, one of those casts were Donna Douglas, “Elly Mae Clampett” of “The Beverly Hillbillies,” Sonny Shroyer “Enos” from “The Dukes of Hazzard” and himself. Another television commercials package featured Dan Biggers “Doc Robb” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night.” Other musical acts that appeared with his show include David Davis and the Warrior River Boys, Gary Waldrep, Ryan Robertson, Barney Miller, James Watson, Danny Bell, Bill Everett, Gilbert Hancock, Sue and Kim Koskela, Roger Hammett, The Sand Mountain Boys, The Dowden Sisters and others. At one South Carolina event alone over 30,000 people came out to see the show and his show was the only featured attraction.

Both his “Sacred Sounds of Appalachia” (1992) and his “Tunes and Tales from Tunnel Hill” (1995) were among the top thirty bluegrass recordings of the year. His “Let’s Live Everyday Like It Was Christmas” single with Grand Ole Opry stars The Whites was given a nod as one of the top Country Vocal Collaborations.

Franks was tapped to host the SPBGMA Bluegrass Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn. at the Roy Acuff Theater in 1995. He presented Del McCoury his Male Vocalist of the Year Award at the IBMA Awards in Owensboro, Ky. in 1992.

"Doc" Tommy Scott[link]

In addition to his schedule, Franks began working with Ramblin’ “Doc” Tommy Scott in 1995. While he worked on the sets of “Grace Under Fire” and “Foxworthy” in Studio City, Calif., he arranged for “Doc” Tommy Scott’s Last Real Old Time Medicine Show with its unique bluegrass flavor to perform at celebrations during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. A veteran 1940s Grand Ole Opry comedian, Scott joined Franks on his 1999 “Comedy Down Home” on Crimson Records. The duo co-wrote the 1999 Lewis Family hit “You Can’t Stop Time.” Scott founded the original Hollywood Hillbilly Jamboree in 1945. Each has appeared on the others’ stage shows.

To raise funds for the Share America Foundation, Inc. in April 2009, the Franks and Scott partnered on stage to present the play "An Appalachian Gathering" featuring a cast of 20 performers creating a slice of Southern life in the 1940s and present day highlighting the effects of the Medicine Show on small towns through Scott's eyes. Franks played Scott in the 1940s.

Some awards and appearances [link]

Franks was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004.

Franks has been honored with countless awards including The Fiddlin’ John Carson Award, A.S.E. Male Vocalist of the Year, The Cotton Carrier Award, Little Jimmy Dempsey Musician Award and a Sons of the American Revolution Citizenship Award. The Governor of Kentucky honored him for his contributions to the music of Bill Monroe. Catoosa County designated him “Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle” in 2004. Franks received the Songwriter of the Year Award from the Atlanta Society of Entertainers in 2009 for his song "The Old Black Fiddle" and also received Bluegrass Band of the Year with the Georgia Bluegrass Mafia Band. He appeared with that group performing that song on the live Georgia Public Broadcasting of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Awards along side Collective Soul and Third Day honoring Georgia music pioneer John L. "Johnny" Carson. The International Bluegrass Music Museum in Owensboro, Ky. honored Franks as a Bluegrass Legend at its 2010 and 2011 Pioneers of Bluegrass Gatherings alongside fellow Blue Grass Boys and other pioneers. Randall Franks and the Georgia Mafia Bluegrass Band received the 2010 and 2011 Atlanta Society of Entertainers Bluegrass Band of the Year Award. The Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle was honored as a feature performer alongside the Watkins Family by the Appalachian Regional Commission at its annual conference in 2010.

Franks said he was honored when the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Macon featured an exhibit on his career in the Skillet Licker Café beside other Georgia notables Alan Jackson, Travis Tritt and Trisha Yearwood which was highlighted from 1996-2007. He has performed at thousands of events and television shows including 20 years at CMA Fan Fair, most of the leading Bluegrass Festivals, The National Folk Festival, National Black Arts Festival, Georgia Mountain Fair, ACM Fan Fest, Grand Ole Opry, Fiddlin’ Fish Music and Arts Festival, The Grand Masters, Command Presidential Performance, Nashville Now, Crook and Chase, Miller & Company, Reno’s Old Time Music Festival and HGTV’s Extreme Homes.

Charitable Efforts[link]

Franks served as the Chairman for the Catoosa Citizens for Literacy in 2002-04 and he took that position again in 2007-09 after serving as co-chair for two years. The organization operates the Catoosa County Learning Center helping residents reach their goals by learning to read, getting a GED or acquiring basic computer skills. He now serves as past chairman.

He is president of the Share America Foundation that provides encouragement through the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship to youth who are continuing the musical arts of Appalachia. The organization produces ten gospel Ringgold monthly. For more information visit http://www.shareamericafoundation.org/.

He serves as treasurer of the Catoosa County Local Emergency Planning Committee. The organization brings together all of the agencies that our community relies upon each day when a need arises. Through the committee's efforts, its members work to prepare solutions for widespread problems our community could face to better protect each of us.

He is the Secretary for the Georgia Production Partnership, a Georgia Film Industry organization which works to improve industry growth and opportunities.

He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Ringgold, Boynton Lions Club, Catoosa Family Collaborative, Catoosa Ferst Foundation for Family Literacy, Nathan Anderson Cemetery Committee, Catoosa County Habitat for Humanity and the Catoosa County Historical Society. He is a Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame board advisor. Franks serves as a field researcher for several museums throughout the South.

Fiddling[link]

The influence of the Georgia Fiddle Bands is apparent within Franks's style and recordings. He was exposed to the work of Fiddlin' John Carson, The Skillet Lickers and other Georgia fiddlers. He grew and gained skills by competing in Georgia fiddle contests, many fostered by World Record Mandolinist Bill Lowery as well as the Grand Ole Opry's Grand Master Fiddler Championship. In the 1990s Georgia honored Franks for his work to preserve the heritage of Georgia’s fiddling by naming a state-sponsored fiddle contest in his honor hosted then at Lake Lanier Islands. Today, the Randall Franks Trophy is presented to the winner each year at the 1890s Day Jamboree Old Time Fiddler's Convention in Ringgold, Ga. Franks also co-hosts America's Grand Master Fiddler Championship annually in Nashville at the IBMA World of Bluegrass.

Journalism and screenwriting[link]

Franks began an interest in writing while still in high school. He began writing entertainment articles for various publications such as Bluegrass Unlimited, the SEBA Breakdown, Precious Memories magazine, and others. His love of writing blossomed into scriptwriting under the tutorage of Carroll O’Connor during his time on “In the Heat of the Night,” which yielded him the unique opportunity to co-write the screenplay for the #1 Country song “Wolverton Mountain” with Merle Kilgore.

He focused on another career in mainstream journalism from 2001-2009 in association with News Publishing Co. He developed a syndicated slice of life and entertainment column called “Southern Style” which is used in publications from North Carolina to Louisiana. Many readers equate his folksy style to that of the late columnist Lewis Grizzard. He currently writes for various magazines.

In his first year of journalism, the Georgia Press Association awarded him a First Place Feature Photo award for a unique photo of the Bluegrass group The White Oak Mountain Boys. His writing has yielded 21 Georgia Press and one National Press Association awards; one among those is W. Trox Bankston Award. He has helped garner two W. G. Sutlive trophies for community service and assisted ''The Catoosa County News'' in achieving the General Excellence award in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and a National Press Association award for Local News coverage.

It was perhaps Franks' love for journalism in the entertainment field specifically, that also caused him to discover a huge oversight in a popular publication about television. In the renowned ''The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows: 1946–Present'' by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, the authors had long left out Franks' name in the complete regular cast list of ''In the Heat of the Night''. In the late 1990s, Franks picked up a copy of what had to have been the 1995 edition of the book, the first to have information on the entire series after it ended in 1994. Obviously feeling slighted when he discovered that he was never listed as a principal character in that edition and two previous ones, Franks wrote to the authors himself; he pointed out that he had co-starred on the series for five years, and asked to be added in the next edition. A rare instance of the authors omitting a prominent actor in a TV series listing, Franks got his wish when he was finally added, starting with the seventh edition in 1999. Brooks and Marsh even mentioned their contact by Franks, in their 1999 epilogue, to make up for the long holdout.

Franks is currently serving on the city council in Ringgold, Georgia with the term ending on December 31, 2013.

References[link]

External links[link]

Category:Living people Category:American fiddlers Category:Year of birth missing (living people)