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Smooth jazz singer-songwriter Michael Franks graduated from University High in San Diego before going on to write soundtrack music for the antiwar musical Anthems in E-flat starring Mark Hamill. He also composed music for the films Cockfighter (1974) and Zandy's Bride (1974).
After Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee recorded three of his songs (including "White Boy Lost in the Blues") on their album Sonny & Brownie (on which Franks played guitar, banjo, and mandolin), he recorded an eponymous album in 1973, later reissued as Previously Unavailable, which included single "Can't Seem to Shake This Rock 'n' Roll."
Franks later became known for smooth jazz albums.