About the Author

Actor/entertainer Randall Franks is best known as "Officer Randy Goode" from TV's "In the Heat of the Night," a role he performed on NBC and CBS from 1988-1993. He also starred with Robert Townsend in the series "Musical Theater of Hope" which aired on GMC (Gospel Music Channel). He has co-starred or starred in 15 films with superstars who include Dolly Parton, Christian Slater, William Hurt, Stella Parton, and legendary western star "Doc" Tommy Scott. His most recent film is "Broken" with Soren Fulton, Felix Ryan, Bailey Ann Borders and Joe Stevens. The Independent Country Music Hall of Fame member's musical career boasts 25 album releases, 21 singles, and over 200 recordings with artists from various genres. The International Bluegrass Music Museum Legend annually hosts the historic Grand Master Fiddler Championship at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to his solo career, which includes years of guest starring for the Grand Ole Opry, Franks is a former member of Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys and Jim and Jesse's Virginia Boys. He has performed with Jeff & Sheri Easter, the Lewis Family, the Marksmen Quartet, the Watkins Family, Elaine and Shorty, "Doc" Tommy Scott's Last Real Old Time Medicine Show, and Doodle and the Golden River Grass. He authored seven other books, including "Encouragers I: Finding the Light," "Encouragers II: Walking with the Masters," "A Mountain Pearl: Appalachian Reminiscing and Recipes;" "Whittlin' and Fiddlin' My Own Way: The Violet Hensley Story" with Violet Hensley; "Stirring Up Success with a Southern Flavor," and "Stirring Up Additional Success with a Southern Flavor" with Shirley Smith; and "Snake Oil, Superstars and Me" with "Doc" Tommy Scott and Shirley Swiesz. A journalist with more than 20 state and national awards, Franks is also a syndicated columnist with his "Southern Style" appearing weekly in newspapers from North Carolina to Texas and at http: //randallfranks.com/. He was included among his generation's leading country humorists in the Loyal Jones book "Country Music Humorists and Comedians." For more information, visit www.randallfranks.com and www.shareamericafoundation.org.