Tillman Franks
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Tillman B. Franks (born September 29, 1920, Stamps, Arkansas - October 26, 2006) was an American bassist, and songwriter who was also the manager for a number of country music artists, including Johnny Horton, David Houston, Webb Pierce, Claude King and the Carlisles.
At age two, his family moved to the Shreveport, Louisiana suburb of Cedar Grove.
On 3 April 1948, Franks made history when he played bass with the Bailes Brothers on the first night of the Louisiana Hayride radio broadcast.
Franks was the sole writer of Johnny Horton's first No. 1 single, 1959's "When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below)." He and Horton were co-writers of "Honky-Tonk Man," Horton's 1956 hit, that Dwight Yoakam also recorded as his first single. In 1960, he co-wrote the hit single "Sink the Bismark" with Horton.[1]
Franks' contribution to rock and roll has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
Franks died on October 26, 2006.
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