Frank Luther

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Frank Luther (August 4, 1900 - November 16, 1980) was an American country music singer, songwriter and pianist.

Born Francis Luther Crow Lakin, Kansas, he was raised in Bakersfield, California. A trained pianist, he moved to New York City in 1928 to pursue a career in music. A country music singer, he was one of the first "Urban Cowboys", performing country music at big city clubs as "Frank Luther and his Pards." He is remembered as the composer of "Barnacle Bill The Sailor" written with Carson Robison.

He married Zora Layman, a fiddle player who performed and recorded with him. Eventually, Luther shifted his focus to children's songs, enjoying considerable success with his recordings on which he sang and told stories. Among the popular albums for children that Frank Luther released were "Raggedy Ann Songs & Stories" and "A Child's First Birthday Record." His recording of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" (released 1939) was a popular request on Children's Favourites.

He wrote the script, music, and lyrics for a 1956 television musical adaptation of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, presented on the United States Steel Hour. An album of the songs from the production was issued on American Decca Records.

For his contribution to the recording industry, Frank Luther has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1708 Vine Street.

Frank Luther died in 1980 in New York City.