Music
Brian Franklin is a singer-songwriter and lead guitar player who has written over 150 songs, was signed (for a brief period) to Mercury/Polygram in the mid-90’s, was once named the Miami New Times’ Best Acoustic Performer, and has collaborated and/or performed with Diane Ward, Dean Fields, Fernando Perdomo, Alex Woodard, Matthew Sabatella, Harry Hochman, Kylie Miller, and many more.
Billboard singled out his “introspective lyrics and affecting vocal style,” while Miami New Times described his “full, raspy vocals” and the “rich, subtle expressiveness” of his songwriting. XS Magazine praised a “polished, passionate delivery” in which his voice “hits every peak and valley,” and The Next Flash called that “somewhat raspy voice” a “soothing, hypnotic instrument,” admiring the “blinding clarity” he brings to his craft. To Ink 19, his delivery is simply “soulful and passionate” — a perfect soundtrack for finding joy in dark times.
Franklin’s most ambitious achievement is The Rat Opera (2009), a rock opera about Frank Falestra created with Rob Elba of The Holy Terror. The project yielded a recorded soundtrack and two sold-out theatrical performances, and drew some of the strongest notices of his career. The Miami Herald likened it to “The Who’s Tommy performed by the Pixies,” calling the music “tuneful, upbeat and clever.” Broward/Palm Beach New Times hailed it as “a masterpiece… an engaging tale within the body of emotionally charged songs,” and the Sun Sentinel praised its “impressive collection of songs,” “insistently melodic” throughout. Songs such as “Ballad of the Rat” and “All Your Tone Is Wrong” remain highlights of the recorded soundtrack.
Have a listen to some of his work, below.