- From Chamblee, Georgia. Lives in Atlanta.
- Began performing at the age of eight.
- Musical career includes singing, songwriting and producing. Plays guitar, bass, mandolin and fiddle.
- At age 19, he played fiddle and bass with Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. He has also worked with Jim and Jesse, the Lewis Family, and the Golden River Grass.
- 1992, received the “Fiddlin’ John Carson Award.”
- First love: gospel music. Has performed with gospel artists the Marksmen, the Lewis Family, Jeff and Sheri Easter, and the Singing Perry’s.
- He is also a professional actor, a regular on the CBS series “In the Heat of the Night,” playing the part of “Officer Randy” on the Sparta Police Force.
- He is active in many community service programs and has his own non-profit “the Share America Foundation.”
- Hosts the annual Grand Masters Fiddle Championships.
- 1992, produced a Christmas album featuring the “Heat” cast and several bluegrass and country music stars (Jim and Jesse, Ralph Stanley, Josh Graves, the Lewis Family, Jimmy Martin, etc.) to benefit drug-abuse prevention programs around the country.
- 2002, recorded an album of old-time duets with David Davis (Warrior River Boys.)
- 2004, was inducted into the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.
- 2013, was inducted into the Independent Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Hobbies: spelunking (caving) and hiking.
Franks, Randall
