My full name is Franklin Fletcher Avant, but my stage name is “Fletcher”.

I am a songwriter/singer from Georgia.  I started writing songs in the mid 80’s and my songs are about everyday working class themes.  I have always enjoyed writing songs and now I have the opportunity to sing them.

My musical beginnings started at an early age when my family would play and sing at different outings and gatherings.  My musical artist influences would be Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.  I always valued well written songs that told a story or message.  My style of music, or genre, would be a combination of Country/Country Christian.

Last year was very exciting.  I sent my songs to Nashville and was contacted by a music producer, Jim Cartwright, to see if I wanted to come and record the songs.  I never intended to be doing the actual recording of the songs I was writing, so it was a thrill to have someone in the music business to not only like my songs, but request me to sing them.  What started out as an adventure resulted in so much more: rich with friendships and a lot of music business knowledge.  We completed my first EP (Rhymes and Reasons) containing five songs.  While in Nashville, I had the great opportunity to meet an unbelievably good guitarist and musician; Mike Severs.  He worked with me on the EP and I was honored that he played guitar on all five songs.

I would like to thank Howard Garmon and the Road Island Red Band for their advice and experience in the Music Business.  Howard is a local legend and member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame.  In the 60′s and 70′s he played with all of the Greats including Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Charlie Pride, Ernest Tubb and more.  Road Island Red is a talented group of musicians that have played on the same stage of these Greats as well and backed some of the biggest names in Country Music.

I would also like to thank Jim Cartwright – Nashville Producer for his patience and advice as well.  He is a great Nashville Producer that works with Independent, Unsigned Artist to help them produce an album.  He is one of the best.  If it weren’t for producers like Jim, there would be a lot of songs and artists that would never be heard.

Finally, I just wanted to thank all the fans and friends that came out to the shows last year.  It was a lot of fun!  I look forward to performing more soon and hope 2012 will be even better.

Currently we are going over songs and will be going back to Nashville to start working on another album that I hope to release summer of 2012.  It is certainly an exciting time in my life to be able to have my songs published for all to hear.  Life is certainly full of surprises.

Finally, my bio would not be complete if I did not mention how the Lord has blessed me with words and music all of my life.  He has given me the ability to write some great songs and I hope when people hear my songs they identify with them and hear the truth and sincerity behind them.  I would hope that when people hear these songs that they would receive something they never had or find something that they have lost along the way. Great songs are what get us through life from day to day.  I’ve always said, “The best sermon I ever heard was from the power of a song”.

God Bless,
Fletcher