- Tillman Franks
Tillman B. Franks (born
September 29 1920 , Stamps,Arkansas -October 26 2006 ) was an American bassist, andsongwriter who was also the manager for a number ofcountry music artists, includingJohnny Horton , David Houston,Webb Pierce ,Claude King and the Carlisles.At age two, his family moved to the Shreveport,
Louisiana suburb of Cedar Grove.On 3 April 1948, Franks made history when he played bass with the Bailes Brothers on the first night of the "
Louisiana Hayride "radio broadcast.Franks was the sole writer of
Johnny Horton 's first No. 1 single, 1959's "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)." He and Horton were co-writers of "Honky-Tonk Man," Horton's 1956 hit, thatDwight Yoakam also recorded as his first single. In 1960, he co-wrote the hit single "Sink the Bismark " with Horton. [http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1544171/20061026/horton_johnny.jhtml] Franks' contribution torock and roll has been recognized by theRockabilly Hall of Fame .Franks died on
October 26 2006 .External links
* [http://www.tillmanfranks.com/ Tillman Franks website]
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gnfwxqtgldfe~T1 All Music Guide]
* [http://www.hillbilly-music.com/news/story/index.php?id=6049 Frank Tillman @ Hillbilly-Music.com]
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