Meeting Randall Franks

Randall Franks (center) with The Watkins Family

This past Saturday (April 14th, 2012), I had the pleasure of representing the non profit radio station I work for at "The Solomon Bunch" red carpet premiere in McDonough, GA. This family and faith-based film shot on location in our listening area is absolutely fantastic! It also featured a guest appearance by bluegrass legend Randall Franks.

Since I host a bluegrass gospel program on the weekends, I've been wanting to meet Randall Franks and had the chance to do so at this event. The table for my station was set up across from his, so I introduced myself and invited him to come on my program at a future date. He was delighted to do so and gave me three of his albums to include on the program. It was an honor to meet such a legend.

Franks resides in Catoosa County, GA and is known as the "Appalachian Ambassador of the Fiddle". He was a member of the legendary "Father of Bluegrass" Bill Monroe's band, and played with bluegrass greats Jim and Jesse, the Marksmen Quartet, and has performed with Jeff and Sheri Easter. On top of that, he also played Officer Randy Goode on "In the Heat of the Night." And has appeared in many other movies with Christian Slater, Dolly Parton, and legendary western star "Doc" Tommy Scott.

Not only is Franks one of the best Appalachian fiddlers in existence, he is also an author and historian of Appalachian culture. He also operates an Appalachian music scholarship foundation called Share America Foundation. You can learn about all his accomplishments and contributions when you visit RandallFranks.com

Before "The Solomon Bunch" premiered, the audience enjoyed a performance by Randall Franks and The Watkins Family. It was great!

Jesus Donkey

Just before Easter we had some listeners invite us to their family farm. I had previously told them that my wife and I were homeschooling and so they thought it would be a fun field trip for the girls -- which it was!


They rolled out the red carpet for us and even had a farm fact sheet printed out for the girls. First on the itinerary was breakfast which consisted of pig in the blanket sausages and cinnamon rolls. Next, they took us to their fields of red clover which was at peak bloom. We snapped a few photos of the girls standing in the waste high (to them) clover. After that we took a golf cart ride through the cow pasture.


Most of the cattle were black angus with a few jersey cows. In a lower field they had a few donkeys which the girls fed with some left over bread. One of the donkeys had the marking of a cross on it's shoulders and our friends referred to it as a Jesus Donkey. The donkeys were quite nervous and I was warned not to get too close to them as they would deliver a pretty strong kick.


With it being so close to Easter and smack dab in the middle of "Passion Week" the story of the Jesus Donkey and their skiddish nature to strangers revealed to me a hidden miracle of Jesus' day.


 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” Matthew 21:5


Here-in is the miracle. Jesus riding on a colt that had never been ridden. And moreover, the donkey's mother paying no never-mind. I couldn't even get close enough to feed these tame donkeys without the threat of having my brains kicked out. And here is Jesus, the King of the Universe riding on an unbroken donkey's colt -- that donkey knew who he was carrying, don't doubt that!


And just think about it, the donkey knew, but God's own people failed to realize! For it was later that week that his own people crucified him on the cross. I pray that today God's people will be as smart as that donkey in the gospels. May we recognize our Saviour for who he truly is!


Just a quick lesson I learned on a farm tour one morning.

Rock's Ride and Run

About a year ago, my boss approached me with an idea for a new feature on our radio stations. The program would be a sports devotional called "The Winner's Circle" and would be hosted by Coach Rock Knapp (who came up with the original idea).

Coach Rock is one of the most fascinating individuals I have had the pleasure to know and work with in my 11 years of broadcasting. Before I met Coach Rock, he was a winning high school football coach. Most noticeably he was the head coach at Sherwood Baptist Christian School -- the same place Facing the Giants was filmed.

A few years ago, Coach Rock was diagnosed with two terminal forms of cancer, but despite this setback Coach Rock has not slowed down one bit. Coach Rock is very involved in the community bringing hope to other cancer patients and spreading the Gospel. He is also working on publishing a children's book geared for children battling illness.

Recently Coach Rock stopped by the studios to cut a Georgia Town Crier program with me. This edition of the program will focus on Rock's Ride and Run -- a duathlon taking place on the west side of Atlanta. Proceeds from this event will help support cancer patients who cannot make various household bills due to their incredible hospital payments.

The Real Life Center of Tyrone has partnered with Coach Rock on this venture and the whole thing kicks off on June 23rd. You can find more info and register as an athlete or sponsor when you visit www.RealLifeCenter.com.

Georgia Bluegrass: Stone Mountain Village

On March 31st, the family took a day trip to the Stone Mountain Village Bluegrass Festival. There is nothing more American, more organic, than bluegrass music. Bluegrass evolved from the music that the Scott-Irish immigrants, who populated the Appalachian mountains, brought with them.

Eventually it would be brought to the mainstream by the likes of Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys. The actual genre of bluegrass derived its name from this group. Of course all sorts of greats like Flatt and Scruggs, The Osborne Brothers, and many of the early pioneers of this musical format was influenced or were members of Bill Monroe's band.

Just before the Stone Mountain Festival kicked off, one of the all time greats of bluegrass -- Earl Scruggs passed away in Nashville. Scruggs brought the three-finger picking style of the banjo to the forefront while performing with Bill Monroe in the mid-1940s. That moment was broadcast live on the radio during the Grand Ole Opry. It was a musical moment akin to Elvis shaking his hips on live television -- but well received. Generations of banjo players would imitate Scruggs style of picking, which allowed the banjo to be played faster than the typical claw-hammer style that was prevalent before hand.

At the festival, many of the banjo pickers played one or both styles. There was a main stage set up for the headliner bands, and then assorted groups would gather along the main drag of the event breaking into impromptu jam sessions. It was pure heaven for a bluegrass lover. Of course the thing I love most about bluegrass is that one can go from singing about corn whiskey into a gospel song that is more theologically sound than most preachers I've heard.

Now I know there are those reading this blog that will poo poo bluegrass as being unrefined and hillbilly. But to disrespect this genre is akin to burning the American Flag in my humble opinion. For there is nothing more Americana than bluegrass -- it is America's music. Brought here by immigrants and refined into what it is today by their offspring. And that my friend is essentially American.