Frankie Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frankie Smith
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| Born | January 29, 1953 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. |
| Died | March 8, 2019 (aged 66) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Genres | R&B, soul, funk, disco, old school hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, keyboards |
| Years active | 1979–2019 |
| Labels | Paramount Records, WMOT Records, Amstate Records |
| Associated acts | The O'Jays, The Spinners |
Franklyn Leon Smith (born January 29, 1953 – died March 8, 2019) was an American musician. He was known for his fun funk and R&B music. Frankie Smith is most famous for his 1981 hit song, "Double Dutch Bus". This song was very popular and even helped create a new way of speaking!
Frankie Smith's Music Journey
Frankie Smith studied elementary education and music in college. He became a talented songwriter for many popular soul and funk artists. He wrote songs for famous groups like The O'Jays and The Spinners.
In 1981, Frankie Smith released his biggest hit, "Double Dutch Bus". This song was special because it introduced a unique type of slang. In this slang, people would add "iz" in the middle of words. For example, "place" would become "plizace". Another way was to change the end of a word to "-izzle," like "sure" becoming "shizzle". This fun way of talking became very popular, especially later in hip hop and rap music. Famous rappers like Snoop Dogg even used it!
Later Life
Frankie Smith passed away in Philadelphia on March 8, 2019. He left behind a legacy of catchy music and a unique contribution to language through his hit song.
