Junior Franklin 1931-1996

Thirty-four preachers from California to Mississippi and some of gospel music's brightest voices came to St. James Baptist Church Tuesday to honor and remember the Rev. Ermant M. Franklin Jr., one of their own. As many of them said repeatedly, they were not there to mourn his death but to celebrate his "home-going." And three hours later, after enough singing, shouting, and preaching to make the angels jealous, "Junior" Franklin went home in style. The founder of the Mighty Clouds of Joy and one of the pillars of Austin's gospel community died Wednesday, January 17 of a massive stroke at age 64. Franklin, a native of Austin, started the Clouds in 1960 after moving to Los Angeles, and remained a member of the multiple-Grammy-winning quartet (the first gospel group on Houston's famous Peacock records) until his passing. In addition to writing many of the Clouds' best-known and best-loved hits, including "Family Circle," "Ain't Got Long to Stay Here," "Nobody Can Keep Me Down," and "Two Wings," Franklin was a longtime member of St. James Baptist Church, where his father, the Rev. E.M. Franklin, Sr., served as pastor. Franklin also served as booking agent for many gospel groups in the Sixties, and as manager of several local gospel groups, including the Golden Echoes, in his later years. He also ran the Franklin-Stewart poster company until the mid-Eighties. A longtime singer of the Word of God, Franklin began preaching it in 1991 at the Solid Rock Baptist Church. He leaves behind a wife, Elmira Franklin, numerous children, friends and relatives. "He taught me everything I know," says Bill "the Mailman" Martin, gospel deejay, and Franklin's brother-in-law. "He was a gospel genius. He never met any strangers." He will meet precious few in heaven. -- Christopher Gray