Overview
Hollywood Casino at Greektown Presentation
Franks has recorded more than 15 albums, each extending his unique creative commentary on life and love. He recorded Abandoned Garden, as a tribute to his musical mentor,
Antonio Carlos Jobim, in 1995. His best known works include: “Popsicle Toes,” “The Lady Wants to Know,” “Tell Me All About It,” “Antonio’s Song,” “Rainy Night in Tokyo,” “ Island Life,” “Soul Mate,” and “Dragonfly Summer.” Radio hits include “When Sly Calls (Don’t Touch That Phone)” from the album Passionfruit, “Your Secret’s Safe with Me,” from Skin Dive, and “Island Life” from The Camera Never Lies. His recording of “Let It Snow” featuring Carla Bley and Steve Swallow, was the most played Christmas song on Smooth Jazz Radio for many years. The album benefited Special Olympics. He recorded his own holiday CD of original songs, Watching the Snow, to benefit Hearts United for Animals. It was later rereleased by Rhino. And he recorded a cover version of “Christmas Time is Here” with pianist David Benoit on Benoit’s album, Remembering Christmas. He recorded a live album in Australia in 1980, called Michael Franks with Crossfire Live.
In 1986 he won an Emmy for his score of an ABC after school special titled “Are You My Mother,” staring Michael York and featuring the song “Life on the Street.” Noa Noa, a musical he wrote about Paul Gauguin’s life in Tahiti, was produced at Playwrights Horizons in New York City in 1998. During his career he has toured in Japan 19 times. A Who’s Who
of Japanese musicians have recorded his songs including: Anri, Toku, and Ua. In 2011 he released a book called Poems from the Road, with all proceeds benefiting animal charities. He continues to volunteer and support local shelters and donates the proceeds from his merch money to community food pantries for people and their pets. He is also writing his memoirs, a history of his friendships with a myriad of musicians over his 50 year career, including producers and players like: Chuck Loeb, Walter Becker, Jimmy Haslip, Jeff Lorber, Andre Fisher, Ben Sidran, Rob Mounsey, Gil Goldstein, John Simon, Tommy LiPuma, Mark Egan, Scott Petito and Charles Blenzig. He’s including stories about musicians he has met along the way, at gigs, backstage, and at jazz festivals, to name a few: Bill Withers, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, Herb Alpert, Miles Davis, and Stevie Wonder. He is currently in the studio working on a project to benefit community food pantries for people and their pets. He continues to write, record, and tour.
