Dan Franklin
Born (1977-06-27) June 27, 1977 (age 47)
Lancaster, California, U.S.
GenresRock, Folk, Country
Occupation(s)Musician, Actor, Composer, Producer
Years activeEarly 2000s–present
LabelsDan Franklin Music
Websitewww.danfranklinmusic.com

Dan Franklin

Born: June 27, 1977, Lancaster, California

Raised: Ukiah, California

Occupation: Musician, Actor, Composer, Producer

Years Active: Early 2000s – Present


Early Life

Dan Franklin was born on June 27, 1977, in Lancaster, California, and raised in Ukiah. He began learning the guitar at an early age, following advice from his brother Greg Franklin, which laid the foundation for his interest in music.[1].

Music Career

Franklin's music career spans over two decades with roles as a performer, composer, and producer.

Franklin Wall

He is best known as one half of the Huntington Beach country duo Franklin Wall, alongside Stephanie Wall. Their music combines early 2000s country with West Coast rock and roll. In 2023, they released the single "You're So Good," which received favorable reviews for its harmonies and pop-country sound. The duo has opened for artists such as Ty Herndon[2], Ben Gallaher, and Presley Tennant[3].

In September 2024, Franklin Wall performed at Freedom Fest in Prosper, Texas, sharing the stage with Coffey Anderson and Amanda Kate Ferris[4]. The event was part of the town's celebrations and included live music and fireworks.

Dan and Leland

Before forming Franklin Wall, Franklin was part of the acoustic duo Dan and Leland, with Leland Jackness. The duo blended Americana and pop-rock, and they released several albums, including the soundtrack to their graphic novel Mind of Mirrors, illustrated by Tom Hodges[5]. Their work was highlighted in Vintage Guitar Magazine.[6] Their song This Thing Between Us was featured in an episode of the show 90210 titled What's Past is Prologue[7].

Skullduggers

Franklin is also a founding member of the pirate band Skullduggers, which performs sea shanties and maritime folk music. The band gained attention for its involvement in events promoting Microsoft's video game Sea of Thieves, performing regularly for Microsoft-related events, including performances at Comic-Con, Gamescom in Germany, The NYC Microsoft Store Sea of Thieves Launch Event, and E3 in Los Angeles[8]. The group was awarded the Best Musical Group on the Show Floor by VentureBeat.[9]

Solo Work

Franklin has also released solo albums in various genres, including rock, folk, and blues. His notable albums include:

  • The Man Who Broke Time
  • The Best Ride of Your Life
  • Pieces
  • The Live to Dream Project (Also a documentary and successful crowdfunding Campaign[10])

His song Heartbreaker premiered on Jammerzine[11] who also reviewed it. Another write up about this song on OriginalRock.net[12] spoke of Dan's previous work with session drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, trumpet player Wayne Bergeron, and trombonist Andy Martin for his album The Best Ride of Your Life, which was the product of a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter[13]

In 2017 he returned to his hometown of Ukiah to perform a benefit concert in support of the vocal department of the high school at which he attended.[14]

Another article in Rock Cellar Magazine further detailed his achievements and goals.[15]

He operates under his label, Dan Franklin Music, which focuses on supporting independent artists in producing and distributing their music.

Collaborations

Franklin has co-written and produced songs such as "RPM", "This Country is Badass" and "I Can't Fix You." by Sasha Pieterse.[16] He has contributed as a guitarist and producer on various projects across the music industry. He has written and collaborated for many years with jazz producer Johnny K. [17] His song What If? was covered by country artist Rachel Stacy.[18] He has written and produced several projects with christian/gospel artist Mandie Pinto, including her 2015 album Where You Are. [19] He has also performed in numerous concerts with her, including appearances on the Hour of Power TV show [20], and a concert in conjunction with Zoe Children's Homes to support anti human trafficking charities. [21]

Film and Television

Franklin has appeared in numerous roles in film and television, both as an actor and a composer. He served as music supervisor for comedian Tig Notaro's animated feature "Tig Notaro: Drawn".[22]

Acting Roles

He portrayed David Loshaw in Man with a Van for Discovery[23] and Dr. Warren Atherton in the film Mantra[24], which he also co-wrote, co-produced, and composed the score for. He appeared in an episode of Cold Case Files [25]and various independent films.

He played Milligan in the television series Wild West Chronicles[26], contributing to episodes about historical figures of the American frontier.

He has also acted in numerous web series, commercials, music videos, shorts, and features.[27]

Music Composition

Franklin contributed lead vocals to the theme song for Tom and Jerry: Cowboy Up! (2022)[28] and performed songs for Tom and Jerry in New York[29]. He has also composed scores for various television shows and films.

Disneyland and Mad T Party

In addition to his other work, Franklin performed at Disneyland as part of the popular Mad T Party show at Disney California Adventure[30]. He portrayed multiple characters, including The Dormouse, The Mad Hatter, and The March Hare, in live performances that were part of the park's nighttime entertainment. He was also an original member of the Bootstrappers pirate band in New Orleans Square playing mandolin, bass, and guitar as Sockhead Syd.[31]

Awards and Recognition

Franklin won the Gold Award for Best Soundtrack at the International Independent Film Awards in 2022 for his work on Something Good Coming[32]. He also received the Best Soundtrack award at the Kalakari Film Fest in 2023.[33]

He is a member of professional organizations including the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), American Federation of Musicians (AFM), and ASCAP.


Notable Works

  • Albums:
    • The Man Who Broke Time
    • The Best Ride of Your Life
    • Pieces
    • Staggers and Jags (As The Skullduggers)
  • Dan and Leland Albums:
    • Mind of Mirrors (Soundtrack)
  • Singles:
    • "You're So Good" (2023)
    • "RPM" (Sasha Pieterse)
    • "I Can't Fix You"
    • "Live to Dream Again"
  • Film/TV Roles:
    • Man with a Van (David Loshaw)
    • Mantra (Dr. Warren Atherton)
    • Wild West Chronicles (Various Roles)
    • Cold Case Files (Guest Appearance)
  • Compositions:
    • Tom and Jerry: Cowboy Up! (2022)
    • Tom and Jerry in New York

References

  1. ^ Exclusive Artist Interview: Dan Franklin. Retrieved 2024-09-25 – via webermandolins.com.
  2. ^ "An Evening withTy HerndonFeaturingFranklin WallHosted by Erik HalbigSOLD OUT". Spaghettini. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  3. ^ "Jacked Up Country Music Fest | Default %". Default. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  4. ^ "Prosper's annual Freedom Fest, with headliner Coffey Anderson, set for Sept. 7". Star Local Media. 2024-07-14. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  5. ^ Corippo, John (2013-05-09). "Kickstarter campaign funds Mind of Mirrors"". The Ukiah Daily Journal. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  6. ^ Jordan, Oscar (2015-06-18). "Dan and Leland | Vintage Guitar® magazine". Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  7. ^ "TuneFind - Dan and Leland".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Pirate Shenanigans at Flagship Microsoft Store, Fifth Avenue, NYC - Tuesday March 20th 6pm til 9pm!!". www.seaofthieves.com. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  9. ^ Valdes, Giancarlo (2016-07-01). "GamesBeat's E3 Non-Awards: The best musical act on the show floor". VentureBeat. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  10. ^ "The Live To Dream Project". www.kickstarter.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  11. ^ Martin, Ryan (2018-09-19). "First Listen: Dan Franklin - Heartbreaker (+ Video Premiere) - Audio - Jammerzine". jammerzine.com. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  12. ^ Rock, Original (2018-09-19). "Dan Franklin releases 'Heartbreaker'". OriginalRock.net. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  13. ^ "The Best Ride of Your Life - Music from Dan Franklin". www.kickstarter.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  14. ^ "Benefit Concert – Anderson Valley Advertiser". Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  15. ^ Garro, Adrian (2020-08-19). "Dan Franklin: The Rock Cellar Independent Artist Program Spotlight". Rock Cellar Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  16. ^ "SASHA PIETERSE ON BREAKING THE PRETTY LITTLE LIARS MOLD - AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE | THE UNTITLED MAGAZINE". 2014-10-01. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  17. ^ Jazz, All About. "Johnny K Musician - All About Jazz". All About Jazz Musicians. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  18. ^ "Jaxsta". jaxsta.com. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  19. ^ "Mandie's Fifth: Dan Franklin produces new Mandie Pinto album 'Where You Are'". www.crossrhythms.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  20. ^ "Serenity". Hour of Power. 2017-11-26. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  21. ^ Magazine, Santa Clarita (2010-07-28). "Musicians Unite to Combat Human Trafficking". Santa Clarita Magazine. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  22. ^ Tig Notaro: Drawn (2021) - IMDb. Retrieved 2024-09-25 – via www.imdb.com.
  23. ^ Man With A Van (2020). Retrieved 2024-09-25 – via watch.plex.tv.
  24. ^ "Mantra". Indican Pictures. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  25. ^ A Family Cursed, Cold Case Files, Danny Glover, Georgia F. Axiotis, Jerri Axiotis, 2017-06-22, retrieved 2024-09-25{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  26. ^ "Wild West Chronicles" Elfego Baca & the Frisco Shootout (TV Episode 2021) - IMDb. Retrieved 2024-09-25 – via m.imdb.com.
  27. ^ "Dan Franklin | Music Department, Actor, Producer". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  28. ^ "Tom and Jerry: Cowboy Up! Soundtrack (2022)". www.soundtrack.net. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  29. ^ Tom and Jerry in New York (Animation, Short, Adventure), Stephen Stanton, Rick Zieff, Joey D'Auria, Renegade Animation, Warner Bros. Animation, 2021-07-01, retrieved 2024-09-25{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  30. ^ Unknown (2013-04-19). "13th Floor Photography: Inspirational Set - Vintage Mad T Party". 13th Floor Photography. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  31. ^ Hoffman, Nick (2020-01-14). "UTC 206 Dan Franklin". Under the Crossbones - The Pirate Podcast. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  32. ^ "International Independent Film Awards (2022)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  33. ^ "Kalakari Film Fest (2023)". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-09-25.

External Links