Paul Franklin

  
Paul Franklin is one of the world's most influential pedal steel guitarists. He began his career in the 1970s as a member of Barbara Mandrell's road band; he also toured with Vince Gill, Mel Tillis, Jerry Reed, and Dire Straits. Paul has become a prolific session musician in Nashville, playing on thousands of albums. He has been named by the Academy of Country Music as Best Steel Guitarist several times. He was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019. Paul Franklin is the most nominated person in CMA history and is notable for having been nominated for the Country Music Association Award for Musician of the Year more than thirty times. In addition to the pedal steel guitar and lap steel guitar, Franklin plays Dobro, fiddle, and drums, as well as three custom-built instruments called the Pedabro, The Box, and the baritone steel guitar. Since 2016, Franklin has been offering online steel guitar lessons.

 

Franklin has worked with many well-known acts during his career, including Mark Knopfler and Dire StraitsBarbara MandrellRodney CrowellNotting HillbilliesStingPeter FramptonGeorge StraitAlan JacksonFaith HillShania TwainBarbra StreisandReba McEntirePatty LovelessKathy MatteaBig & RichClint BlackEtta JamesJake OwenKane BrownKenny RogersKid RockLauren AlainaLee Ann WomackLionel RichieLuke BryanOlivia Newton-JohnPeter CeteraRandy TravisRonnie MilsapSheryl CrowThomas RhettTim McGrawToni BraxtonTrace AdkinsVince GillLuke CombsThe Bellamy BrothersMark ChesnuttGeorge FoxCollin RayeJohn Michael MontgomeryDavid Lee MurphyLaceToby KeithHarry Connick Jr.Wynonna JuddMark WillsHal KetchumJo Dee MessinaAaron TippinGeorge JonesCarrie UnderwoodAaron LewisWillie NelsonEaston Corbin Troy Cassar-Daley and Megadeth, to name just a few.

BENADO and Paul Franklin have been collaborating since 2011. Paul uses several BENADO units in the studio and on the road, including the PF Steel Dream and the PF-5 PRO, which he utilized during the Chris Stapleton tour.