Rodney Franklin

Rodney Thomas Franklin (September 16, 1958 – July 8, 2026) was an American jazz pianist and composer.

Life and career Franklin was born in Berkeley, California, on September 16, 1958.

Prior to signing up with CBS Records in 1978, Franklin worked with John Handy in San Francisco, as well as Bill Summers, Freddie Hubbard and Marlena Shaw.

His debut CBS album was In the Center (1978), a jazz fusion album featuring "On the Path" and "I Like the Music Make It Hot". Although aged 20 when he recorded the album, he had already developed his own sound which was influenced by McCoy Tyner and George Duke, Chick Corea, Lonnie Liston Smith, and George Semper.

In 1980 on the album You'll Never Know he had major chart success with "The Groove" (it reached number 7 in the UK Singles Chart). The track was released on both 7" and 12" format. It created a UK dance craze called 'The Freeze' which was started up by DJ Chris Hill.

Additional albums which were also recorded on the CBS label have included Rodney Franklin (1980), Endless Flight (1981), Learning to Love (1982), Marathon (1984) (probably his most famous in the UK, produced by bass player Stanley Clarke and the LP which released a single called Stay on in the Groove), Skydance (1985) and It Takes Two (1986).

In 1988 he moved over to the BMG record label and recorded Diamond Inside of You which introduced vocals by Jennifer Holliday on the single, "Gotta Give It Up". In addition, Franklin has also produced and released an album on Nova Records called Love Dancin' in 1992.

Franklin died on July 8, 2026, at the age of 67.

Discography Albums — — — —

Rhythms of Africa (with Bernie Krause) — — — — — Rain Forest Dreams (with Bernie Krause) — — — — — 1998 Ocean Odyssey'' (with Bernie Krause) — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart. "x" denotes that chart did not exist at the time.

Singles YearSinglePeak chart positionsBE (FLA) CAN AC NL UK US R&B 1978"I Like the Music Make It Hot" — — — — — —1980"The Groove" 30 — 31 7 27 41"In the Center" — — — — — 911981"Windy City" — — — — — 89"The Theme from Hill Street Blues" — 29 — — — —1982"Enuff Is Enuff" — — — — — 681983"That's the Way I Feel 'Bout Your Love" — — — — — 641984"Stay On in the Groove" — — — — — 721985"Fiesta" (Promo) — — — — — —1986"Look What's Showing Through" — — — — — 59"The Eagle and the Condor" — — — — — —1987"Bustin' Out" — — — — — —1988"Gotta Give It Up" — — — — — —"Stop to Love" — — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.