Michael Franks
#155,176 Most Popular
About
Known for such solo albums as Sleeping Gypsy, Tiger in the Rain, and Dragonfly Summer (all released on the Warner Brothers label), this California-born jazz vocalist and songwriter collaborated with such famous musicians as Art Garfunkel and Patti Austin.
Before Fame
He purchased his first guitar when he was just fourteen years old and wrote his first songs while studying literature at the University of California-Los Angeles (from which he earned a bachelor's degree), the University of Oregon (M.A., 1968), and the University of Montreal (where he was a PhD student).
Trivia
His popular singles include "When Sly Calls (Don't Touch That Phone)," "Popsicle Toes," and "Rainy Night in Tokyo."
Family Life
He and his two sisters were raised in La Jolla, California, as the children of Betty and Gerald Franks.
Associated With
Early in his career, he composed music for an anti-war theatrical production, Anthems in E-Flat, that featured future Star Wars star Mark Hamill.
