Michael Franks (born September 18, 1944) is an American singer and songwriter, considered a leader of the Quiet Storm genre. He has recorded with a variety of well-known artists, singers, and musicians such as: Astrud Gilberto, Peggy Lee, Joe Sample, Michael Brecker, Chuck Loeb, Art Garfunkel, Randy Brecker, Brenda Russell, Bonnie Raitt, David Sanborn, Claus Ogerman, Eumir Deodato, Toots Thielemans, Art Farmer, Artie Traum, Hubert Laws, Livingston Taylor, Randy Van Warmer, Patti Austin, Me Phi Me, Orleans, and Kenny Rankin, among many others. His songs have been recorded by: Natalie Cole, Diana Krall,Lyle Lovett, Kurt Elling, Til Bronner, Ringo Starr, Melissa Manchester, The Carpenters, Mark Murphy, Gordon Haskell, Mark/Almond, Patti LaBelle, jazz guitarists Howard Roberts and Sylvain Luc, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, John Pizzarelli, Carmen McRae, Veronica Nunn, Al Jarreau, Joe Sample, Shirley Bassey, Lani Hall, The Manhattan Transfer, Leo Sidran, Dee Dee Bridgewater and many others.

He has written songs with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joe Sample, Djavan, John Guerin, the Yellow jackets, Rob Mounsey and Charles Blenzig. His songs are also sampled frequently.

Franks grew up in Southern California with a large extended family. He spent much of his childhood on the beach and used to swim in Mission Bay on his way to school. On weekends, holidays, and vacations he worked for his father, a building contractor.

Although no one in his family was a musician, his parents loved swing music and jazz. His early influences included singers Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and songwriters Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, and Johnny Mercer. At age 14 Franks bought his first guitar, a Japanese Marco Polo for $29.95 with 6 private lessons included. At University High in San Diego, Franks discovered the poetry of Theodore Roethke, with his off rhymes and hidden meter. In high school, he began singing folk/rock and accompanied himself on guitar. While studying English Literature at UCLA , Michael discovered the music of Ahmad Jamal, Dave Brubeck, Mose Allison, Stan Getz, Joao Gilberto, Tom Jobim and Miles Davis. He put himself through college painting houses and working in green houses.

He also worked in the law library at UCLA. In his sophomore year he took off one semester and hitchhiked through Europe for six months, working odd jobs and staying in youth hostels. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA and an M.A. f rom the University of Oregon. After two more years in a doctoral program at the University of Montreal, he returned to teach at various universities including UCLA and started to write songs, beginning with his pro peace musical, “Anthems in E-flat”, starring a then-unknown Mark Hamill.

In 1972 Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee recorded three of his songs, including “White Boy Lost in the Blues,” on their A&M album, Sonny and Brownie. Franks played guitar, banjo, and mandolin on the album and joined them for a short tour. In 1973 he recorded an eponymous album of his own compositions, later released on John Hammond Records at Columbia as Previously Unavailable, which included the minor hit, “Can’t Seem to Shake This Rock ‘n Roll.” During this period he also composed music for the films: Zandy’s Bride (1974) starring Liv Ullman and Gene Hackman and directed by Jan Troell, and Born to Kill( 1975) starring Warren Oates. In 1976 Franks released his second studio album, The Art of Tea, produced by Tommy Li Puma, which saw Franks begin a long and creative relationship of twenty-four years with Warner Brothers Records.

The Art of Tea featured Joe Sample, Larry Carlton, and Wilton Felder of the Crusaders and included the hit song “Popsicle Toes” and other radio and concert standards like “Eggplant,” and “Monkey See-Monkey Do.” His third album, Sleeping Gypsy( 1977) which includes “The Lady Wants to Know,” was partially recorded in Brazil. Around this time, percussionist Ray Armando gave Franks a handmade cabasa which became the signature instrument he plays on stage when not playing the guitar.

“Burchfield Nines” (1978) which includes the song “When the Cookie Jar is Empty” reflects his move to New York City and features more of an East Coast Sound with players like Steve Gadd, Will Lee, Ralph MacDonald, and John Tropea. Since then, Franks has recorded more than 15 albums, each extending his unique creative commentary on life and love. He recorded Abandoned Garden, as a tribute to his musical mentor, Antonio Carlos Jobim, in 1995.

His best known works include: “Popsicle Toes,” “The LadyWants to Know,” “Tell Me All About It,” “Antonio’s Song,” “Rainy Night in Tokyo,” “ Island Life,” “Soul Mate,” and “Dragonfly Summer.” Radio hits include “When Sly Calls (Don’t Touch That Phone)”from the album Passionfruit, “Your Secret’s Safe with Me,” from Skin Dive,and “Island Life” from The Camera Never Lies. His recording of “Let It Snow” featuring Carla Bley and Steve Swallow, was the most played Christmas song on Smooth Jazz Radio for many years. The album benefited Special Olympics. He recorded his own holiday CD of original songs, Watching the Snow, to benefit Hearts United for Animals. It was later re released by Rhino. And he recorded a cover version of “Christmas Time is Here” with pianist David Benoit on Benoit’s album, Remembering Christmas. He recorded a live album in Australia in 1980, called Michael Franks with Crossfire Live.

In 1986 he won an Emmy for his score of an ABC after school special titled “Are You My Mother,” staring Michael York and featuring the song “Life on the Street.”Noa Noa, a musical he wrote about Paul Gauguin’s life in Tahiti, was produced at Playwrights Horizons in New York City in1998.During his career he has toured in Japan 19 times. A Who’s Whoof Japanese musicians have recorded his songs including: Anri, Toku, and Ua. In 2011 he released a book called Poems from the Road, with all proceeds benefiting animal charities. He continues to volunteer and support local shelters and donates the proceeds from his merch money to community food pantries for people and their pets. He is also writing his memoirs, a history of his friendships with a myriad of musicians over his 50 year career, including producers and players like: Chuck Loeb, Walter Becker, Jimmy Haslip, Jeff Lorber, Andre Fisher, Ben Sidran, Rob Mounsey, Gil Goldstein, John Simon, Tommy Li Puma, Mark Egan, Scott Petito and Charles Blenzig. He’s including stories about musicians he has met along the way, at gigs, backstage, and at jazz festivals, to name a few: Bill Withers, Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, Herb Alpert, Miles Davis, and Stevie Wonder.
He is currently in the studio working on a project to benefit community food pantries for people and their pets. He continues to write, record, and tour.