Real name: Franklin Scott Spears Sr.

Barbershop tenor/lead/baritone vocalist and choral director.

Born on April 20, 1931, Franklin went on to become an active barbershopper and state politician.

Franklin’s first District quartet championship in 1960 as the baritone of the Playboys. He sang lead in SWD finalist quartet, the Frontiersmen, and final tenor of the 1966 SWD Champions, the Mark IV.

The Mark IV went on to accomplish so much more as in 1969 when they were crowned international champions. Franklin served in the AIC for many years after the Mark IV’s victory as their president and was instrumental in beginning AIC scholarships.

Franklin was the assistant director of the Chordsmen Chorus and served as their chapter president and membership vice president. He won one chorus championship with the Chordsmen in 1960 and was in four SWD championship choruses.

Franklin was elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1958 when he was only 27 years old. He served that position until 1961 and was moved to the Senate and served there until 1967. He was elected to the Texas Supreme Court on January 1, 1979 and served on the high bench until his retirement 12 years later.

Franklin died of a heart attack on April 10, 1996 at the age of 64.