Fran Smith Jr. has enjoyed an illustrious career in music for over twenty-five years. For the past fifteen years, he has secured the bass playing duties in The Hooters. This band, which is originally from Philadelphia, has become one of the hottest bands in Europe. The Hooters have just returned from a four-week tour in Germany where they play...
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Fran Smith Jr. has enjoyed an illustrious career in music for over twenty-five years. For the past fifteen years, he has secured the bass playing duties in The Hooters. This band, which is originally from Philadelphia, has become one of the hottest bands in Europe. The Hooters have just returned from a four-week tour in Germany where they played more than 20 sold out performances. They have done extensive stadium tours, appeared on numerous television programs, and even performed at the Wall concert, in Berlin, with Pink Floyd. During one of their last trips to Germany, The Hooters filmed a television commercial for the largest railway system in Germany. Their latest CD, Largo, started as the recording sessions for a new Hooters album, but evolved into a collaboration between The Hooters and great guest artists like Taj Mahal, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Joan Osborne, The Chieftains, Carole King, Cyndi Lauper, David Forman, and Willie Nile.
Fran has received numerous platinum and gold records for his accomplishments with The Hooters.
When Fran is not playing sold out concerts in Europe, he spends his time in a number of different ways. He plays in several original bands, including that of Eric Bazilian, the writer of Joan Osborne’s One of Us.
Fran has also played the role of Paul McCartney in Beatlemania, with the original Broadway cast members.
Fran does many voice overs for television and radio, including a version of “When I’m 64” for Vanguard insurance company.
He also plays locally in his own group called Rory Kunkle. In 1996 he released a solo CD on Moskeeto Records and has performed at many clubs in the Jersey and Pennsylvania area. Several well-known artists helped to make the Rory Kunkle CD a success, including The Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Uosikkinen and Keith Mack. The CD was produced by Grammy-nominated engineer Steve Churchyard, who has produced George Michaels, The Pretenders, Pat Benetar and has worked with George Martin. Currently Fran is working on a new CD that will be released this fall.
Fran has produced many projects ranging from a comedy record with Joe Piscapo to Flo and Eddy of The Turtles.
For the past four years, Fran has been playing the part of Carlo Cannoli in Tony and Tina’s Wedding. The longest running off-broadway comedy.
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