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