Paul Franklin
Born in Detroit Michigan, Paul Franklin was 8 years old when he starting playing the pedal steel guitar. At 16 he played on a Pop platinum hit..."Oh It's So Nice To Be With You" by the Gallery...The producer and Motown session guitarist Dennis Coffee and bassist Bob Babbit led to a session with George Clinton's band, the Parliament Funkadellic on a song titled "Country Boy".
At 17 Paul moved to Nashville touring with Barbara Mandrell, Dottie West, Mel Tillis, and Jerry Reed. In 1982 he started his present work load in the studio which has earned him 24 CMA "Musician of the Year" nominations while winning the ACM's "Steel Guitarist Of The Year" award 14 times and Guitar Players readers poll twice. Paul played steel on Dire Straits last CD "On Every Street" and toured with them in 92.
Paul's recording career has crossed genres...Some notables Paul has recorded with are Vince Gill, Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Sting, Megadeth, George Jones, Shania Twain, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Earl Klugh, Rascall Flatts, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Barbara Streisand, John Mayer, Peter Cetera, Mark Knopfler, John Prine, Billy Joel, Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert, The Band Perry, Cheryl Crowe, Boz Skaggs, Patty Loveless and for a more complete listing check out Allmusic.com. Vince Gill and Paul recorded a duet CD titled "Bakersfield"...It's a tribute to their Country heroes, Merle Haggard and Buck Owens...He is a a member of the Grammy nominated Swing band "The Time Jumpers" on Rounder records.
Besides maintaining his studio calls, Paul Franklin currently tours with Vince Gill and The Time Jumpers.