Johnny Franz facts for kids

John Charles Franz (born February 23, 1922 – died January 29, 1977) was a very important English music producer. He worked for Philips Records. In the 1950s and 1960s, he was one of Britain's most successful producers. He helped create many popular songs. His most famous work was with British pop stars like Dusty Springfield, The Walker Brothers, and Scott Walker. He also produced the hit song "Welcome Home" for Peters & Lee in 1973.

Franz's Music Journey

Franz was born in Holloway, London, England. He learned to play the piano from a young age. He started his career working for a music publisher. He also played piano in dance bands at nightclubs. Sometimes, he even appeared on the radio. By the late 1940s, he was known as one of Britain's best piano players for singers.

Becoming a Producer

Franz also worked for the BBC, arranging music. In 1954, he became the head of A&R at Philips Records. A&R stands for "Artists and Repertoire." An A&R person finds new artists and helps them record their music.

As a producer, Franz helped many famous British artists. These included Dame Shirley Bassey, Frankie Vaughan, Dusty Springfield, and The Walker Brothers. He also worked with American singers who recorded in Britain, like Mel Tormé. He even produced songs for American artists like Doris Day and Johnnie Ray.

Franz's Unique Sound

Johnny Franz was known for his special sound. He often used a full choir and large orchestras in his recordings. Talented musicians like Wally Stott, Ivor Raymonde, and Peter Knight helped him create this sound.

Franz was very good at matching great pop songs and singers with rich orchestral music. He was not always the one who came up with new ideas. Instead, he was excellent at choosing the right people for each job.

For example, when Dusty Springfield recorded her first solo hit, "I Only Want to Be with You" in 1963, Franz worked closely with arranger Ivor Raymonde. Raymonde also helped write the song. Their work together created a sound similar to Phil Spector's famous "Wall of Sound" in America. This "Wall of Sound" made music sound very full and powerful.

Franz also worked with The Walker Brothers on their hits, like "Make It Easy on Yourself". Engineer Peter Olliff helped a lot with these songs. For the more classical-sounding songs by The Walker Brothers, Reg Guest often arranged the music.

Working with Scott Walker

Franz and Peter Olliff continued to work with Scott Walker on his early solo albums. Scott Walker's music became more serious and thoughtful. Scott and Franz were good friends. Franz even arranged for Scott to take singing lessons to improve his breath control.

However, Franz could not keep working with Scott Walker after 1973. This was because Scott left Philips Records to join CBS Records. Even so, Franz still gave Scott valuable advice.

Personal Life

Johnny Franz married his secretary, Moira Creamer, in 1966. His younger brother, Harold, worked in music promotion for another company. Franz was known for drinking many cups of tea and smoking cigarettes, especially during recording sessions. He was very proud of his Rolls-Royce car. He bought it from another Philips artist, Sir Harry Secombe.

Later Life and Legacy

Johnny Franz was often called the "last of the great pros" in the music business. He passed away from a heart attack in 1977, at the age of 54. He was in London's Brompton Hospital at the time. A special memorial service was held for him at St Martin-in-the-Fields soon after.

Top Hits Produced by Johnny Franz

Franz produced ten songs that reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. These songs spent a total of twenty-eight weeks at the very top of the charts!

• "Let's Have Another Party" – Winifred Atwell (1954)
• "Lay Down Your Arms" – Anne Shelton (1956)
• "The Garden of Eden" – Frankie Vaughan (1957)
• "As I Love You" – Shirley Bassey (1959)
• "Tower of Strength" – Frankie Vaughan (1961)
• "Juliet" – The Four Pennies (1964)
• "Make It Easy on Yourself" – The Walker Brothers (1965)
• "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" – The Walker Brothers (1966)
• "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" – Dusty Springfield (1966)
• "Welcome Home" – Peters and Lee (1973)