His diverse style gives an easy ear to a long listen.
John Anthony or Johnny, "whatever you prefer" as he would insist has been told his new CD release Last Cowboy will one day be a classic.
The songs he sings are usually always his own. On occasion, he does a cover song by someone who has inspired him to become a writer. His songs are written from a myriad of experience, living a very rich and adventurous life. From hitch hiking over 35,000 miles through North America in the 1970's to raising his family on their organic cattle farms in Virginia and Pennsylvania. His lyrics always promise the verity of life's challenges and triumphs and the hope of a deeper meaning.
"What's my style?" Say's Johnny. "Style is like wearing a good suit with a pair of rattlesnake skin boots or a favorite pair of jeans with a vintage Hawaiian shirt. Style is the way you say what you say. The package presenting the product."
And that's the way he writes. His diverse styles give an easy ear to a long listen.
"Who have I played with? Well...Jim Weider who took over Robbie Robertson's spot in THE BAND for one. Jimmy is a great fun loven guy with a killer touch on the guitar. One of these days I'm gonna do another record with him of all my country blues songs."
With a trail of fourteen records and four DVD's and a variety of "Styles" from Country to Folk, to Rock to Gospel, to Blues, JohnA has recorded with well known greats like, Wanda Vick from Wild Rose, Jumping Johnny Sansone, Susan Cowsills formally of the Continental Drifters and the Cowsills, Ron Krasinski from Seals and Crofts, Doyle Grishem from the Jimmy Buffet Band, Craig Kastelnik from Eddy Rabbits band, Nashville's Brent Moyer, Tammy Rogers, Buddy Skipper and Andy Most just to name a few.
He has shared the stage with Arlo Guthrie, Livingston Taylor, Leon Redbone, Dion, Michel Martin Murphy and Leon Russell.
"Making Music is like being a channel from another dimension. It's a breeze blown' in the window, it touches you and then it's gone. That's why, while I'm alive I'll never stop writing and recording...Finish one and the breeze will blow again."
With all the many very talented singer songwriters in this big ole world, JohnA's a star that will burn long after he's gone. He always says,
"It's gonna take light years for me to get home."
John Anthony Franklin could very well be The Last Cowboy. |
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Maybe a better title would have been "The North and South". Half was recorded in Nashville. Produced by BRENT MOYER and half the record was recorded in the North on the Franklin Farm. Produced by JOHN ANTHONY FRANKLIN. What we called the Union Band was a list of great players from the North.
THE UNION BAND Linda Zapf Franklin, John Anthony Franklin, Jim McGee, Neil Burton, Craig Kalstelnik, Jimmy Rocket, Manasseh Franklin, Rick Franklin, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone.
The Time in Nashville was "Just Fine". I've got a love for Dixie and the great All-Star line-up of THE CONFEDERATE BAND Linda Zapf Franklin, John Anthony Franklin, Dave Francis, John Vogt, Ron Krasinski, Wanda Vick, Tammy Rogers, Buddy Skipper, Brent Moyer, Le Ann Eteridge, Pat McInerney "Mac", Andy Most, Susan Cowsill, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Russ Brossard and Susan Cowsil.
This record is a prideful moment for John Anthony Franklin. "To have such great musicians from both the North and the South perform on this record in the discovery of my Southern Roots was truly an honor." With songs like Tennessee Highway, Veil of Time and Lament of the LAST Jackson Hole COWBOY, Well...they were written from the heart and to be recorded with great players. |
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Imagine growing up outside Philadelphia, living out more than half of your life and finding out you come from a Southern Dynasty. Well that's what John Anthony Franklin learned when he took a trip to see where his Daddy grew up. His Great Grandfather served in the Civil War with five brothers. Brothers Hardy and Mitchel were killed and buried in Virginia. Heriem was permanently disabled. Remer and Alderman were wounded but went on to live life after the war and raised big families that were all devout. Jason married America Rountree and started a 2000-acre plantation in Bulloch County. They birthed and raised nine children there. Jason was big on education and saw to it that a school was built near the plantation in Excelsior, where all the children got a high school education. Seven went on to University. Now, mind you, they all did this during the twenty five years that proceeded the devastating war. Five became doctors. Great uncle George got a PHD and was the head of the English Department at Boston University. Uncle Oscar became the judge of Eastman Georgia. Rufus built and ran the hospital in Swainsboro Georgia and was the first doctor to administer ether during surgery. JohnA's Granddaddy became the dentist of Hawkinsville, Georgia and Uncle Paul had the Pharmacy next to the Jaeckel Hotel in Statesboro Georgia where Blind Willie McTell wrote Statesboro Blues. JohnA's Daddy James Jason was 17 when he watched his Daddy die. His dream to go to University and follow in his uncle's footsteps died that day too. He went to work to help Mama support the family. When Pearl Harbor was bombed he left Georgia and went off to war. It was then James met Peggy Molley, an Irish Catholic girl from Philadelphia. After the war James settled in the North and never went back to Georgia. This record is a collection of stories recalled by those who lived them from 1870 - 1900, forever captured in the recording of the 1951 Franklin Family Reunion and Seven related songs. The classic traditional Dixie and six others written by the Great Grandson of Jason and America Franklin. Each song for each of the seven sons of Jason and his father Pernel Franklin. |
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Each CD comes with a mini poster
of the artists work.
Available for $14.99
Available NOW World-wide in CD Baby
Stores www.CDbaby.com
To be on John Anthony's Mailing list for SHOWS and NEWS email him at artisanjs@erols.com
For an interview call 610-324-1738
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