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'''Franklyn Leon Smith''' (1953 - March 8, 2019<ref name="death">{{cite news |last1=Chandler |first1=D.L. |title=Little Known Black History Fact: Frankie Smith |url=https://blackamericaweb.com/2019/03/14/little-known-black-history-fact-frankie-smith/ |accessdate=10 April 2020 |work=Black America Web |date=14 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref>) was an American [[funk]] musician and [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]/[[Soul music|soul]] songwriter. He was best known for his 1981 single "[[Double Dutch Bus]]".
'''Franklyn Leon Smith''' (1953 – March 8, 2019)<ref name="death">{{cite news |last1=Chandler |first1=D. L. |title=Little Known Black History Fact: Frankie Smith |url=https://blackamericaweb.com/2019/03/14/little-known-black-history-fact-frankie-smith/ |accessdate=10 April 2020 |work=Black America Web |date=14 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref> was an American [[funk]] musician and [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]/[[Soul music|soul]] songwriter. He was best known for his 1981 single "[[Double Dutch Bus]]".


==Career==
==Career==
He went to college in Tennessee for elementary education with a minor in music. He became a writer for funk and [[soul music|soul]] artists such as the [[The O'Jays|O'Jays]] and [[The Spinners (U.S. band)|The Spinners]]. In 1972 he would record for Paramount, releasing a single calld "Double Dutch" under the name Franklin Franklin, but the record failed to become a hit.<ref name="Whitburn">{{Cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955 - 2002 |publisher=Record Research Inc |year=2003 |isbn=0-89820-155-1 |pages=652}}</ref> He was also influential in the careers of the [[rapper]]s [[Tone Loc]], [[Ice Cube]] and [[Snoop Dogg]].
He went to college in [[Tennessee]] for elementary education with a minor in music. He became a writer for funk and [[soul music|soul]] artists such as the [[The O'Jays|O'Jays]] and [[The Spinners (U.S. band)|The Spinners]]. In 1972 he would record for Paramount, releasing a single called "Double Dutch" under the name Franklin Franklin, but the record failed to become a hit.<ref name="Whitburn">{{Cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |title=Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955 – 2002 |publisher=Record Research Inc |year=2003 |isbn=0-89820-155-1 |pages=652}}</ref> He was also influential in the careers of the [[rapper]]s [[Tone Loc]], [[Ice Cube]] and [[Snoop Dogg]].


With his 1981 single "[[Double Dutch Bus]]", released by [[WMOT Records]],<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p192548/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Frankie Smith|last=Hogan|first=Ed|publisher=[[All Media Guide|AMG]]|accessdate=May 10, 2010}}</ref> Smith popularized a nonsensical form of slang, (From his song "Slang thang", 1981 WMOT records.) in which "iz" is placed in the middle of a word (for example, the word "place" becomes "pl''iz''ace") or the last letters of a word are replaced with "[[-izzle]]" (ex. sure becomes sh''izzle''). The style became part of [[hip-hop]] slang, and was popularized by rappers [[Snoop Dogg]] and [[E-40]]. The style today holds a place in popular slang.
With his 1981 single "[[Double Dutch Bus]]", released by [[WMOT Records]],<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p192548/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Frankie Smith|last=Hogan|first=Ed|publisher=[[All Media Guide|AMG]]|accessdate=May 10, 2010}}</ref> Smith popularized a nonsensical form of slang (from his song "Slang thang", 1981 WMOT, Records), in which "iz" is placed in the middle of a word (for example, the word "place" becomes "pl''iz''ace"), or the last letters of a word are replaced with "[[-izzle]]" (for example, sure becomes sh''izzle''). The style became part of [[hip-hop]] slang, and was popularized by rappers [[Snoop Dogg]] and [[E-40]]. The style today holds a place in popular slang.


"Double Dutch Bus" has been [[sample (music)|sampled]] frequently in hip-hop, including Snoop Dogg's "Snoop Dogg (What's My Name, Pt. 2)" and [[Missy Elliott]]'s "[[Gossip Folks]]". Both records were produced by [[Timbaland]]. His single "Double Dutch Bus" is featured in the 2008 Disney movie ''[[College Road Trip]]'' starring [[Martin Lawrence]] and [[Raven-Symoné]].
"Double Dutch Bus" has been [[sample (music)|sampled]] frequently in hip-hop, including Snoop Dogg's "Snoop Dogg (What's My Name, Pt. 2)" and [[Missy Elliott]]'s "[[Gossip Folks]]". Both records were produced by [[Timbaland]]. Smith's single "Double Dutch Bus" is featured in the 2008 Disney movie ''[[College Road Trip]]'', starring [[Martin Lawrence]] and [[Raven-Symoné]].


A native of Philadelphia, Smith once applied to be a bus driver for the [[Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority]] (SEPTA), which operates Philadelphia's public transit system, but SEPTA turned him down. The "Transpass" referred to by Smith in "Double Dutch Bus" is an actual monthly fare pass issued by SEPTA.
A native of Philadelphia, Smith once applied to be a bus driver for the [[Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority]] (SEPTA), which operates Philadelphia's public transit system, but SEPTA turned him down. The "Transpass" referred to by Smith in "Double Dutch Bus" is an actual monthly fare pass issued by SEPTA.


==Death==
==Death==
Smith died in [[Philadelphia]] on March 8, 2019; he was 65-66 years old.<ref name="death" />
Smith died in [[Philadelphia]] on March 8, 2019; he was 65–66 years old.<ref name="death" />


==Discography==
==Discography==

Revision as of 12:21, 20 May 2020

For the football player of the same name, see Frankie Smith (American football).
Frankie Smith
Born1953
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DiedMarch 8, 2019(2019-03-08) (aged 65–66)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
GenresR&B, soul, funk, disco, old school hip hop
OccupationSinger
Years active1979–2019
LabelsParamount Records, WMOT Records, Amstate Records

Franklyn Leon Smith (1953 – March 8, 2019)[1] was an American funk musician and R&B/soul songwriter. He was best known for his 1981 single "Double Dutch Bus".

Career

He went to college in Tennessee for elementary education with a minor in music. He became a writer for funk and soul artists such as the O'Jays and The Spinners. In 1972 he would record for Paramount, releasing a single called "Double Dutch" under the name Franklin Franklin, but the record failed to become a hit.[2] He was also influential in the careers of the rappers Tone Loc, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg.

With his 1981 single "Double Dutch Bus", released by WMOT Records,[3] Smith popularized a nonsensical form of slang (from his song "Slang thang", 1981 WMOT, Records), in which "iz" is placed in the middle of a word (for example, the word "place" becomes "plizace"), or the last letters of a word are replaced with "-izzle" (for example, sure becomes shizzle). The style became part of hip-hop slang, and was popularized by rappers Snoop Dogg and E-40. The style today holds a place in popular slang.

"Double Dutch Bus" has been sampled frequently in hip-hop, including Snoop Dogg's "Snoop Dogg (What's My Name, Pt. 2)" and Missy Elliott's "Gossip Folks". Both records were produced by Timbaland. Smith's single "Double Dutch Bus" is featured in the 2008 Disney movie College Road Trip, starring Martin Lawrence and Raven-Symoné.

A native of Philadelphia, Smith once applied to be a bus driver for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), which operates Philadelphia's public transit system, but SEPTA turned him down. The "Transpass" referred to by Smith in "Double Dutch Bus" is an actual monthly fare pass issued by SEPTA.

Death

Smith died in Philadelphia on March 8, 2019; he was 65–66 years old.[1]

Discography

Albums

  • 1981: Children of Tomorrow

Singles

  • 1980: "Double Dutch Bus"
  • 1980: "Double Dutch"
  • 1981: "The Auction"
  • 1981: "Teeny-Bopper Lady"
  • 1982: "Double Dutch Bus II"
  • 1982: "Yo-Yo Champ (From Mississippi)"
  • 1985: "Slapp Ya Thigh"
  • 1985: "Congratulations for Graduating"

References

  1. ^ a b Chandler, D. L. (March 14, 2019). "Little Known Black History Fact: Frankie Smith". Black America Web. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  2. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2003). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955 – 2002. Record Research Inc. p. 652. ISBN 0-89820-155-1.
  3. ^ Hogan, Ed. "Biography: Frankie Smith". AMG. Retrieved May 10, 2010.


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