Although born in Cambridge, Maryland, Franklin's family relocated to Ithaca soon after. By age 4 he began studying drums, tap, and color guard, and by the age of 10 Franklin decided to switch to bass guitar. With some of the most talented musicians in the region right in his own neighborhood it was never difficult to find someone to instruct him on the principles of being funky, or defining a groove. In just a few years Franklin was playing drums with adult bands.  In fact, Franklin doesn't recall music ever not being a part of his life.

By the age of 20 Franklin was playing in several local bands until he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.  During his enlistment, he literally played all over the world, and played with some world-class musicians.  In 1983, he began working with Data-Trak Music Corporation playing bass on some really funky 80's dance tunes (prior to keyboards taking over those duties).

Over the last 17 years, Franklin has continued to play and record with many of Ithaca's most popular local and regional bands, such as Oscar Davis and Oscar Oscar Oscar, Bernie Milton and the Soul Patrol, Rompa Room, EVOLVE, J'San and the Analog Sons, the Millennium Band, Mandingo, and now Under Construction.