Rodney Franklin

Fusion keyboardist Rodney Franklin was born in Berkeley, CA, in 1958. He began piano lessons at the age of six. After graduation, he worked with John Handy in San Francisco and toured with Freddie Hubbard, Marlena Shaw and Bill Summers. His debut album In the Center appeared in 1978 on Columbia. Two years later, Franklin hit the Top Ten with "The Groove," from You'll Never Know. The next six years brought seven more albums from Columbia; none were as successful as You'll Never Know, but Franklin continued to build his reputation as a respected fusion artist. He moved to BMG for 1988's Diamond Inside of You and has also released Love Dancin for Nova.

John Bush, All-Music Guide

From the opening notes of his album Love Dancin', Rodney Franklin's fingers dance you across the keyboard in a variety of arabesques, pirouettes, and even a bit of soft shoe.

As a keyboardist, composer and producer, Franklin has made his mark in the varied musical worlds of R&B, jazz, classical, gospel and rap. Franklin draws on all of these idioms to create music which is at once technically brilliant and bursting with energy.

A native of Berkeley, California, Franklin participated in Dr. Herb Wong's vanguard jazz education program for the very young, and then moved on to Berkeley High School's award winning jazz quartet, which consistently garnered top combo honors at the Monterey Jazz festaval. By the age of 16, Franklin had placed first in more than 70 piano competitions, was presented with the Edward Kennedy Ellington Award and beame the first recipient of Contemporary Keyboard Magazine's Piano Award. Franklin's musical success as a teen culminated with a number one hit "The Groove" on Columbia Records, recorded before Rodney turned 20.

Franklin has also participated in a host of all-star tours, including those of Eubie Blake, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Lee Ritenour, Kenny G. and Stevie Wonder. Honors include the NAACP Jubilee Award for Outstanding Acheivement, a Grammy nomination , and a nomination as Best Jazz Recording Artist for the prestigious NAACP Image Award.

So trip the light fantastic to Motherland. Don't let anyone cut in before the covers of It Never Rains In Southern California and Micheal Jackson's Man In The Mirror. Shuffle off to On My Way, snuggle close for a slow dance to Love's Way and, before you know it, your dance card will be full.

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