Franklin Arrington: Reaching for the Stars
Franklin’s love of music began at an early age. When Franklin was three years old his parents learned that he was born with significant hearing loss. At the age of four, he started wearing a hearing aid in his weakest ear and began speech therapy.
After Franklin started wearing his hearing aid, his parents couldn’t help but notice that he was always singing. In addition to years of speech therapy, singing helped with Franklin’s pronunciations of words. It also helped boost his confidence. Rather than deter him, Franklin never saw his hearing loss as an obstacle.
Franklin’s first steps into the world of music happened serendipitously in the second grade. After being given a choice from his parents between baseball lessons or voice lessons, Franklin chose voice lessons. His first vocal coach, Phillip Williams, who is now a Choir Director in Lewisville ISD, served as one of Franklin’s first mentors. Through William’s tutelage, he learned the fundamentals of vocal technique and discovered the power
of performance.
In elementary school, Franklin began performing at community and school events. He competed in vocal contests, joined choir and band, and even started learning how to play the piano and guitar. The music became a second language for him, bridging the gap between his world and the expansive horizons that lay ahead.
After being cast in his first musical in sixth grade, his family, theatre directors, and friends recognized his undeniable talents and encouraged Franklin to continue to pursue music theatre, choir, and a capella at the high school level. Entering his freshman year at Argyle High School, one of Franklin’s dreams was realized when he was chosen to be a member of the nationally ranked a cappella group, Remedy. As a pivotal member of the group, Remedy placed 3rd in the nation at the ICHSA Nationals held in New York City.
The following year, Franklin then took on a new goal and decided to learn Vocal Percussion. He credits his training to one of his many mentors, Micheal Leadbetter, at New Song School of the Arts. Franklin is also an active member of the Argyle High School Choir and Theatre Departments where he gratefully performs in choir events, plays, musicals, and one-act play competitions. With the help of his high school directors, Mr. Ramos, Mrs. Carpenter, and Mrs. Harp, Franklin continues to hone his skills in choir and acting.
Franklin is also focused on growing in his music. His passion ultimately led him to four-time Grammy nominee and award-winning musician, Dave Alexander. Having performed with legends like George Strait, Randy Travis, and Willie Nelson, Alexander brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, and taught Franklin Musical Theory, an experience he is grateful for.
Looking towards the future, Franklin is diligently working on his own album, striving to catalog his growth as both an artist and a person. He is currently working with David Hughey and Jacob Vaught, owners of Midway Sound and Production in McKinney. He hopes to release his album and begin performing next year. Franklin has also set his sights on studying vocal production at Belmont University in Nashville, where he hopes to further hone his craft and inspire others.
Franklin now wears a hearing aid in both ears. He knows how it feels to be different but he has embraced being different and doesn’t let his hearing loss slow him down. As he continues to pave his path in life, he draws inspiration from those around him. Franklin considers himself blessed for the people and opportunities God has put in his life. He wants other students who have a love for the arts to be encouraged to work toward their goals and reach for the stars. Above all, Franklin hopes that others who face obstacles in their life will begin to see their limitations as catalysts for creativity.
