Southern Gospel News SGNScoops Digital

Share America Foundation chooses bluegrass banjo player for scholarship

The Share America Foundation, Inc. announced its first 2011 scholarship winner recently at its Sacred Sounds Fridays concert featuring the Watkins Family and Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band at the Ringgold Depot in Ringgold, Ga.
The events help fund the organization’s Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship. Pearl and Floyd Franks are the late parents and former entertainment managers of actor/entertainer Randall Franks, “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night.” The scholarships honor students excelling in the Appalachian musical arts.
“I know my parents would be excited to see the latest recipient perform,” Franks said. “With his dedication, interest and fostering of the music with a youth group, I know that is exactly what would have put them in his corner. He is a great talent and deserving of this encouragement.”
Cody Harvey, 18, of Signal Mountain, Tenn. graduated from Signal Mountain High School and plans to attend University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“Since I began playing the banjo, I had always dreamed to have a bluegrass band of people my age,” he said.
He said he actually taught some fellow students and found others who played until the Mountain Cove Bluegrass Band was formed. “Although music is a great passion of mine, I am not looking to make it my profession,” he said.

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