Josie Award Musician of the Year (right) Randall Franks and Musician Lifetime Achievement Award Winner John McCuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band visit backstage at the Grand Ole Opry House
photo by Randall Franks Media
Josie Award nominees from left are Lee Newton, Randall Franks and Dale Houston pause in front of the Grand Ole Opry House before the 10th Annual Josie Music Awards
photo by Lee Newton
Randall Franks visits with TV host Jeff Womack following Randall’s award win
photo by Randall Franks Media
Randall Franks stops along the Red Carpet prior to the 10th Annual Josie Music Awards
photo by Randall Franks Media
Appalachian music artist Randall Franks, "Officer Randy Goode" from TV's "In the Heat of the Night," was nominated for Inspirational Vocalist of the Year and Musician of the Year –Violin/Fiddle at the 10th Annual Josie Music Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.
The Ringgold resident shared that he was earnestly surprised by hearing his name called out by the hosts, so the Independent Country Music Hall of Fame inductee walked to the stage and stood in The Circle taken from the Ryman in the Opry house stage to accept his award.
“40 years ago, Bill Monroe brought me here as an artist,” he said. “It was fiddlers like Howdy Forrester, Kenny Baker, Tommy Jackson, Chubby Wise, and Paul Warren who inspired me to want to be better at fiddling.
“I am thankful for my early Georgia fiddling influences – my Great Uncle Tom Franks who learned from my Great Grandfather A.J. Harve Franks, Dr. Donald Grisier, Dallas Burrell, Gordon Tanner, Eugene Akers and so many others.”
Mr. Franks also thanked his late parents Pearl and Floyd Franks for whom he gives Appalachian musical scholarships through the Share America Foundation and closed by thanking God for the gifts of music. Mr. Franks also attributes his opportunities as a fiddler to his mentors Grand Ole Opry stars Jim and Jesse McReynolds.
“It was such a wonderful night, walking the red carpet, sharing interviews with media folks and meeting other music artists from around the world,” he said. “The evening was filled with old and new friends, great music, smiles and tears as folks won and most of all many of God’s praises. I was honored for the nominations, I never imagined I would be called on stage as an award winner.”
Mr. Franks joined Neil McCoy (Lifetime Achievement Award Winner), Tiffany (Icon Award Winner), and John McCuen (Musician Lifetime Achievement Award Winner), and Randy Edelman (Songwriter Legend Award Winner) among the other artists accepting awards.
The star-studded event marks a unique milestone in his musical life, he said.
"On Oct. 11th, 1984, I made my first artist guest appearance for the Grand Ole Opry, so this month I am celebrating my 40th Anniversary of debuting," he said. "And this week, 40 years ago, I also became one of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys. It's pretty neat rounding out this month on the Opry stage."