Pete Franklin born 16 January 1928

Pete Franklin (January 16, 1928 – July 31, 1975), was an American blues singer, musician and songwriter also known as Guitar Pete Franklin. 

Edward Lamonte Franklin was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His parents both from Tennessee, played the piano and sang songs of wildly popular down-home blues honkers and shouters like Robert Johnson, Son House, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Charlie Patton. On many nights, the sounds of raucous laughter and great music reverberated throughout the house and figuratively shook the structure off it’s foundations. Franklin’s mother wrote many songs for her lodger Leroy Carr, and Franklin’s interest in music developed early, beginning with piano, on which he was as adept as on guitar. His guitar work was influenced by the work of Scrapper Blackwell, whilst on the piano his style was similar to his mother's one time lodger, Leroy Carr. 

                                    

In 1945 Franklin joined the us Army Air Force and played guitar and sang the blues as an entertainer in the Special Service Unit.  A versatile and accomplished musician, Franklin was able to adapt to electric blues, and provided backing to many musicians. His first recording took place in 1947, when he accompanied St. Louis Jimmy on guitar for the latter's single "Coming Up Fast". Franklin's own work started in 1949 with his single release, "Casey Brown Blues". Franklin found work in the early-to-mid 1950's backing several artists other duties included making recordings with Jazz Gillum, John Brim, Sunnyland Slim, and Tampa Red. 

Franklin with Scrapper Blackwell

Settled in his hometown of Indianapolis, he divided his time between his job at a local factory and music. He was “rediscovered” by Art Rosenbaum, and finally found the opportunity to record a full album co-produced by Kenneth Goldstein. which was recorded on July 12, 1961, in Indianapolis. The disc composed of many covers of Curtis Jones, Doctor Clayton, Leroy Carr, Tampa Red and his most famous own composition "Guitar Pete's blues" and is a very rare record that rarely appears on the market.  In 1963, Bluesville Records re- released the album as “The Blues of Pete Franklin: Guitar Pete's Blues.”   

After this Franklin’s trail goes cold until August 1971 when he was recorded at the 33rd National Folk Festival, held August 26-29, 1971, at Wolf Trap Farm Park in Vienna, Virginia, then another recording session in Indianapolis during 1972 for the Blue Goose label. Unfortunately both sessions were never issued. 

Franklin, a heavy drinker, died at his home in Indianapolis, Indiana, in July 1975 from a heart disease, aged 47. He was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana. 

(Very scarce web information edited from Wikipedia, Indianapolis Rhythm, AllMusic & Blues sessions.com)