WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA, April 26, 2017 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Audrey P. Franklyn is a celebrated Marquis Who's Who biographee. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to name Ms. Franklyn a Lifetime Achiever. An accomplished listee, Ms. Franklyn celebrates many years' experience in her professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field.
About Audrey P. Franklyn
Audrey Franklyn grew up in Hollywood, CA, attended Hollywood High School and graduated from UCLA with a major in music, and a minor in business. Upon graduation, she was lucky by landing a job in her chosen field - the music business. Audrey was hired by Gene Norman, Hollywood's premier jazz disc jockey on Station KLAC AM Radio to be his Girl Friday (1955).
After only four months on the job, she was assigned the task of handling the media promotion for Gene's monthly concert show presented at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. Audrey took on this challenge, and on the monthly bill were artists like Dave Brubeck, Peggy Lee, George Shearing and Nat King Cole. Gene was so impressed with Ms. Franklyn's media style in promoting his concerts that six months later, he turned over the promotional duties at the two nightclubs he owned on the Sunset Strip located in West Hollywood. The posh Crescendo where performers like Count Basie, Nancy Wilson and Mel Torme appeared - and upstairs, The Interlude Club featuring stars like satirist Tom Lehrer, shocking-for-the-time comedian Lenny Bruce, and comedian Shelley Berman.
It was amazing that Audrey could undertake all this specialized work. One of the reasons was because she did everything on her own creative media level -- she wrote unique press releases, handled all Nightclub Opening Nights inviting the press (including reviewers), radio commercials, interviews set up for the stars, etc. In a nutshell, the press loved Audrey's personal touch, and she had a certain distinctive enthusiasm. The hard work paid off - both nightclubs were always packed.
After four years working under the Gene Norman banner, Audrey was ready to go into business for herself. She chose a field never attempted by a woman (especially in her twenties) -- that of a concert impresario. Booking the venue, hiring the artists, picking a good date, being responsible for all costs. Audrey P. Franklyn was definitely a trailblazer for women.
Audrey's big break came in 1959 when she signed a contract with "The First Lady of Song" Ella Fitzgerald to appear in concert under the aegis, Audrey P. Franklyn Presents Ella, Dec. 26, Saturday Night at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The concert was not only sold out, 600 people were turned away from the box office.
Norman Granz, Ella's manager and famed record producer, was so impressed with Audrey's talent that he signed more concerts with her.
Some Ella/Audrey dates were: the Pasadena Civic Auditorium (April 9, 1960), the huge Shrine Auditorium (downtown Los Angeles), Encanto Shell Amphitheatre in Phoenix, AZ, the Waikiki Amphitheatre in Hawaii, and the Music Center (Los Angeles).
Ella and Norman Granz were so taken in with her work efforts, they hired Audrey on a freelance basis to do specific media promotions for their company Salle Productions, Inc. (Ella's name spelled backwards). And as fate would have it Ella's office was only five minutes away from Audrey's office on the famous Sunset Strip.
Doing special work for Ella didn't mean that she couldn't continue to be an impresario herself. Under her own Marquee she presented the world famous Gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson (5 times), macabre satirist Tom Lehrer (4 times), and concerts with: Della Reese, Andre Previn, and at Royce Hall, fey British actress/comedienne Elsa Lanchester. It was in 1966 that Audrey received a proposal from Norman Granz. Ella would be returning from a six week tour in Europe and upon her return would be opening at the Americana Hotel in New York City. If Ms. Franklyn could come up with a spectacular promotion for New York City, she would be hired full time as Ella's media promoter for the duration of Ella's career. Audrey took on this assignment with gusto.
When Audrey arrived in New York City she first got Rand McNally to present important press members with costly Globes of the World, which included a press kit from Audrey. Next, ELLA FITZGERALD DAY in New York City was proclaimed by the Mayor. And to add to this, Audrey arranged for Ella to be presented before THE UNITED NATIONS ASSEMBLY (not to mention a luncheon). A national radio interview happened at the UN too, hosted by William B. Williams, the #1 radio personality in the USA.
The night of the Opening at the Americana Hotel - it was red carpet all the way, and adorning the red carpet were the flags of every country Ella had visited on her European tour. In addition, the 15 UN Diplomats were the guests of honor at the Opening. The world media gave it top priority. The New York Times printed the event on the front page -rare coverage for an artist.
Audrey, now having Ella as a full time client gave her more advantage to really do some big stuff. She went on tour with Ella: Philharmonic Hall, Carnegie Hall, Waldorf Astoria (New York City), Constitution Hall (Washington, D.C.), Massey Hall (Toronto, Canada), Academy of Music (Philadelphia, Cleveland and Pittsburgh) and the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco's Nob Hill.
Another important phase of Ms. Franklyn's career. Norman Granz hired Audrey to build an image for his new record label called PABLO RECORDS (named after his close friend Pablo Picasso, who designed the logo for the label) which would only record archival LPs. Jazz greats were on the recording company label only: Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, Sarah Vaughn, virtuoso guitarist Joe Pass, legendary pianist Oscar Peterson, saxophonist Benny Carter, and Dizzy Gillespie. Ella Fitzgerald also joined the prestige label.
Ella Fitzgerald an icon of the 20th century in jazz/pop music, Audrey P. Franklyn worked on all aspects of her historical career from 1959 to 1996 until Ella's demise in June of that year. A long time in show business circles, Ms. Franklyn's talent and know-how certainly played an important role in the success of Ms. Fitzgerald as did the guidance of Norman Granz.
How Audrey found the time is amazing, but from 1977 to 2015, Audrey produced two Singer Showcases a month at leading entertainment meccas. Because of her affiliation with Ella, up and coming singers were excited to be in one of her shows. "The shows were always on Sundays and I loved doing it," commented Audrey.
The Singer Showcases gave Audrey guests to appear on her CABLE TALK SHOW, The Franklyn Interview, which she did on a regular basis from 1977 to 2014. Other artists who appeared included famed comedian and storyteller, Jackie Vernon, who was on her cable show often. Vernon was on Ed Sullivan's television show 96 times. Ms. Franklyn, over the years, appeared on more than 150 interviews (media) herself. "My favorites were being on the "Gypsy Rose Lee" talk show out of San Francisco, "Frankly Female" Channel 9/Los Angeles, an hour Special on Denver Cable.
Today, Audrey P. Franklyn involves herself only in pursuit of more exposure of the memorabilia of her lifetime work that she possesses. The anecdotes and stories she can relate - and the pictures - are hers exclusively.
In addition to her status as a Lifetime Achiever, Ms. Franklyn has been featured in numerous publications, including Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Entertainment, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who in the West and Who's Who of American Women.
In recognition of outstanding contributions to her profession and the Marquis Who's Who community, Ms. Franklyn has been featured on the Marquis Who's Who Lifetime Achievers website. Please visit https://wwlifetimeachievement.com/2016/12/12/audrey-franklyn/ to view this distinguished honor.
Audrey P. Franklyn can be reached by e-mail: [email protected].
About Marquis Who's Who :
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America , Marquis Who's Who has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America , Who's Who in the World , Who's Who in American Law , Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare , Who's Who in Science and Engineering , and Who's Who in Asia . Marquis publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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