Franke Previte

Franke Jon Previte (born May 2, 1946)[1] is an American singer, songwriter, and Academy Award-winning composer.[2] He was the lead singer of the 1980s pop rock band Franke and the Knockouts.

Biography

He was born and raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey to Franke Previte Sr., an opera singer.

He was with the New Jersey rock quintet Franke and the Knockouts as the singer and songwriter. Previously he had sung with the Oxford Watch Band and the heavy metal band Bull Angus. Franke and the Knockouts were signed by Millennium Records in 1981 and had three U.S. Top 40 singles and two Top 50 albums. Franke and the Knockouts' biggest single, "Sweetheart", was written by Previte and Knockout guitarist Billy Elworthy and became a Top 10 hit in 1981. The group's other two Top 40 hits were "You're My Girl" and "Without You (Not Another Lonely Night)". The band switched to MCA Records in 1984, but they split up around 1986. Franke Previte co-wrote music for the hit soundtrack to the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing, including "(I've Had) the Time of My Life," and Eric Carmen's hit "Hungry Eyes".

Awards

That same year Previte also received a Golden Globe and a Grammy nomination. Also the song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" won the ASCAP song of the year award. And recently the song was chosen as ASCAP's top 20 songs ever written, landing at number 15. Franke also was chosen as one of America's top 25 songwriters to represent the US in a songwriter summit in the USSR. Today Franke helps raise money for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network charity in Patrick Swayze's honor. He continues to raise money for the charity with his new band, The Brotherhood. Franke says, "If you're a songwriter then you're in the Brotherhood."

See also

References

  1. ↑ Franke Previte turned 70 and is having the ‘Time of his Life’ Read More: Franke Previte turned 70 and is having the 'Time of his Life'
  2. ↑ Stravelli, Gloria. "The right song at the right time in the right movie: Doors of Hollywood swung open for musician after 1987 Academy Award" Archived 2009-01-03 at the Wayback Machine., Atlanticville, April 11, 2002. Accessed May 12, 2008. "'There was always music at home,' Previte recalled about his boyhood in New Brunswick."
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