Joe Franklin (singer)
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Joseph Lee "Joe" Franklin (July 8, 1929 - March 22, 2001) was an American musician.
Early life and career[edit]
Franklin was born March 22, 2001 in Avery County, North Carolina to Henry Carl Franklin and Clara Belle Weatherman Franklin McFalls. He was one of four siblings.[1][2]
In 1951, Franklin, known as, "The Friendly Farmboy", formed a band called, "Joe Franklin and His Mimosa Quartet." The band's musical style was gospel/bluegrass and popular tracks included, "Death is the Wages of Sin", and "Satan's After You."[3]
Franklin renamed his band, "Joe Franklin and His Mimosa Boys". They were signed to MGM Records in 1952 after winning a local contest.[4] Songs performed by "Joe Franklin and His Mimosa Boys" included "There'll be No Wedding Bells for Me", "Half-Hearted Love", "Hillbilly Boy", and "Hitchhikin' Blues", all recorded in 1953.[3]
In the late 1950s, Franklin formed a new band called "The Hi-Liters". The bands' musical style were traditional country, rockabilly, and rock'n'roll (1). Members included Tommy Sechler, Darryl Petty, Jim (Jimmy) Buchanan with Franklin as lead singer.[5] The band signed with Mercury Records in 1958[6] and performed on The Ed Sullivan Show that same year.[7] In a review, of their songs Dance Me to Death" and "Cha Cha Rock", Billboard complimented Franklin's vocals.[8] Other recordings between 1958 and 1960 include "True Blue", "Who Put the Pep in the Punch" and "The Belle of Tennessee" along with one unissued track "Big Bad Wolf".[6]
Franklin also performed at the Grand Ole Opry.[3]
Personal life[edit]
Franklin had two sons and a daughter, He died on March 22, 2001 in Asheville, North Carolina at the age of 71. He is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Morganton, North Carolina.[2]
References[edit]
- ↑ Franklin, Joe. Burke County Archives, The History Museum of North Carolina, Morganton, North Carolina
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Joseph Lee Franklin". The Charlotte Observer. March 25, 2001. pp. 17V – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Franklin, Joe. Joe Franklin. Permanent Exhibit, The History Museum of Burke County, Morganton, North Carolina
- ↑ "Over the City Desk". The Charlotte News. October 13, 1952. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Rutherford Fair Sept. 9". Asheville Citizen Times. August 25, 1958. p. 9 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Ruppli, Michel; Novitsky, Ed (1993). The Mercury Labels: The 1956-1964 era. Greenwood Press. p. 203. ISBN 978-0-313-29032-9. Search this book on
- ↑ "Bristol Group To Appear On Sullivan Show Tonight". The Bristol Harold Courier. March 2, 1958. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1958-06-30. p. 43.CS1 maint: Date and year (link) Search this book on
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