Book Description

The name Tillman Franks is synonymous with Country Music. For more than 60 years, the Shreveport, La. Native had his finger on the pulse of the business. Now for the first time, he tells his story. Franks served as a star-maker, a songwriter, manager, comedian and musician. There were five artists that he took to No. I in the Country Music charts, including Webb pierce, the Carlisles, Johnny Horton, Claude King and David Houston. Franks relives the stressful times he endured while managing Horton's widow, Billie Jean Horton, and football great, Terry Bradshaw. In addition, he relates his disagreement to the story Tammy Wynette told about their conflict and publicly apologizes the Barbara Mandrell for a conflict they had. The Louisiana Hayride was one of the nation's top Country Music shows in the late 1940's through 1960. Franks was on the first Hayride and remained with it until the end. It was while he was associated with the hayride that he gave a helping hand to rising young stars Hank Williams Sr. and Elvis Presley. Franks describes in vivid detail how the "Angel of Mercy" cradled him in her hand during the tragic car wreck in Milano, Tx. in 1960 that took Johnny Horton's life. In addition, Franks writes chapters about his association with Jim Reeves, Slim Whitman, Gov. Jimmie Davis, Shoji Tabuchi, Kitty Wells, Tommy Sands, Billy Sherrill, Johnny and Jack, Roy Acuff, Glenn Sutton, Jerry Kennedy, Shelby singleton and many others. The reader will laugh and cry at Franks' life and experiences. It's a book that's gonna turn Nashville on its ear.