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   PAUL FRANKLIN moved from Detroit to Nashville in 1972 to play the pedal steel guitar with Barbara Mandrell. Later in the 70's, he recorded and toured with Jerry Reed and Mel Tillis. In 1981, Paul decided to quit the road and focus strictly on session work in Nashville. Since then, he has been well received throughout the recording industry. You can listen to his playing behind such legendary artists as Sting, Mark Knopfler, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Shania Twain, Barbara Streisand and Megadeth for examples of Paul's musicianship. His ability to create music outside of the country field has taken him well beyond the stereotype by which the pedal steel guitar has always been limited. Paul's soulful playing on this uniquely voiced instrument is clearly from the heart and makes him one of the busiest session musicians in Nashville.

   Paul has also been instrumental in bringing several new musical sounds to the forefront of Country Music: the Pedabro, the acoustic lap steel (nicknamed "The Box" by Mac Macanally) and the Baritone Steel.

   The Pedabro looks and plays like a steel, but sounds like a hybrid of the Dobro or resophonic guitar and was built and patented by Paul's father. The first of many hit records featuring the Pedabro was Forever and Ever, Amen by Randy Travis.

   The Box looks like a long narrow box with ten strings and sounds somewhat like a swampy acoustic guitar being played with a bottleneck. A good example of this instrument can be heard on the intro and solo of You and Your Friend on Dire Straits On Every Street CD.
     
The Pedabro The Pedabro (Flip Side) Paul holding "The Box"
 
   The Baritone Steel could also be called the bass steel guitar. Paul took the normal pedal steel and tuned it down one octave. It sounds like a six string electric bass with pedals. You can hear this instruments sound on Dire Straits The Bug as well as CDs by Leann Womack and Andy Griggs.



 

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 2006 Paul Franklin

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