Frankie Smith

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For the football player of the same name, see Frankie Smith (American football).
Frankie Smith
Born1953
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DiedMarch 8, 2019(2019-03-08) (aged 65–66)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
GenresR&B, soul, funk, disco, old school hip hop
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals, keyboards
Years active1979–2019
LabelsParamount Records, WMOT Records, Amstate Records

Franklyn Leon Smith (1953 – March 8, 2019)[1] was an American funk musician and R&B/soul songwriter. He was best known for his 1981 single "Double Dutch Bus".

Career

Smith went to college in Tennessee for elementary education with a minor in music. He became a writer for funk and soul artists such as the O'Jays and The Spinners. In 1972 he would record for Paramount, releasing a single called "Double Dutch" under the name Franklin Franklin, but the record failed to become a hit.[2] He was also influential in the careers of the rappers Tone Loc, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg.

With his 1981 single "Double Dutch Bus", released by WMOT Records,[3] Smith popularized a nonsensical form of slang (from his song "Slang thang", 1981 WMOT, Records), in which "iz" is placed in the middle of a word (for example, the word "place" becomes "plizace"), or the last letters of a word are replaced with "-izzle" (for example, sure becomes shizzle).

Death

Smith died in Philadelphia on March 8, 2019; he was 65–66 years old.[1]

Discography

Albums

  • 1981: Children of Tomorrow

Singles

  • 1980: "Double Dutch Bus"
  • 1980: "Double Dutch"
  • 1981: "The Auction"
  • 1981: "Teeny-Bopper Lady"
  • 1982: "Double Dutch Bus II"
  • 1982: "Yo-Yo Champ (From Mississippi)"
  • 1985: "Slapp Ya Thigh"
  • 1985: "Congratulations for Graduating"

References

  1. ^ a b Chandler, D. L. (March 14, 2019). "Little Known Black History Fact: Frankie Smith". Black America Web. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955 – 2002. Record Research Inc. p. 652. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
  3. ^ Hogan, Ed. "Biography: Frankie Smith". AMG. Retrieved May 10, 2010.

External links


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