Paul Franklin (musician)

{{short description|American musician}}

{{Use American English|date=October 2019}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Paul Franklin

| image = Paul Franklin.jpg

| caption = Franklin performing in 2012

| image_size =

| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|5|31}}

| origin = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

| instrument = Steel guitar

| genre = Country, rock

| occupation = Musician

| years_active = 1970s–present

| current_member_of = The Time Jumpers

}}

Paul V. Franklin (born May 31, 1954U.S. Public Records Index Vol 1 (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.), 2010.) is an American multi-instrumentalist, known mainly for his work as a steel guitarist. He began his career in the 1970s as a member of Barbara Mandrell's road band; in addition he toured with Vince Gill, Mel Tillis, Jerry Reed and Dire Straits. Paul is currently touring with Chris Stapleton. He has since become a prolific session musician in Nashville, playing on more than 500 albums.{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p77515/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Paul Franklin biography |access-date=January 29, 2008 |last=Dillon |first=Charlotte |work=Allmusic}}{{cite web |url=http://countrymusic.about.com/od/awards/a/pfranklin_cma.htm |title=Paul Franklin - 2005 CMA Nominee profile |access-date=January 29, 2008 |last=Fabian |first=Shelly |year=2005 |work=About.com}} He has been named by the Academy of Country Music as Best Steel Guitarist on several occasions. He was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 2000{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=DeWitt |title=The Steel Guitar Hall of Fame/ |url=http://www.scottysmusic.com/hofplq.htm |website=scottysmusic.com |publisher=The Steel Guitar Hall of Fame |access-date=May 6, 2021}} and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019. With thirty three, 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 thirty two times but has yet to win. He has won eighteen Academy of Country Music Awards for his musicianship.

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.{{Cite web |url=https://truetone.com/2018/06/ |title=June 2018 – Truetone |language=en-US |access-date=April 10, 2020}}{{Cite web |url=http://texassteelguitar.org/jam2019.html |title=Texas Steel Guitar Association |website=texassteelguitar.org |access-date=April 10, 2020}}