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For the politician, see Joe Frank (politician).
Joe Frank (born August 19, 1938) is an American radio personality, known best for his often philosophical, humorous, surrealist, and sometimes absurd monologues and radio dramas. [1]
[edit] Early lifeJoe Frank was born in August 1938 in Strasbourg, France near the border of Germany. Being Jewish, his family fled Nazi Germany and moved to New York City later in that same year. His father died shortly after. In his twenties, Frank studied at Hofstra University in New York and later at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. Frank taught English literature at the Dalton School in Manhattan when he became interested in the power of radio.[2] [edit] Early Radio CareerIn the 1970s Frank started volunteering at Pacifica Network station WBAI in New York, doing experimental radio involving monologues, improvisational actors, and live music during late night free-form hours. In 1978 he moved to Washington DC to serve as a co-anchor for the weekend edition of National Public Radio's All Things Considered, his first paying radio job. During this period he wrote, performed in, and produced 18 dramas for NPR Playhouse which won several awards. [edit] KCRW, 1986-2002In 1986, on the invitation of Ruth Hirschman [Seymour] the general manager of NPR's Santa Monica affiliate KCRW, Frank moved to Santa Monica, California where he wrote, produced and performed in his own weekly hour-long radio program, "Joe Frank: Work In Progress." While at KCRW, Frank received several awards, including a Peabody Award and two Corporation for Public Broadcasting Awards, one for his acclaimed three-part series "Rent-a-Family." Frank was also a Guggenheim Fellow. Joe Frank continued to work at KCRW until 2002, and his work evolved, as evidenced by the diverse series he produced: first Work in Progress, then In The Dark, followed by Somewhere Out There, and finally The Other Side. [edit] Radio ProgramsFrank's radio programs are often dark and ironic, and employ a dry sense of humor and the sincere delivery of ideas or stories that are patently absurd. Subject matter often includes religion, life's meaning, death, and Frank's relationships with women. Frank's voice is distinctive, resonant, authoritative, and - because of his occasional voice-over work - often oddly familiar. At the 2003 Third Coast Festival he explained that he was "recording in Dolby and playing back without it -- which created Joe's now familiar intimate and gritty sound".[3] Adding to the atmosphere of Frank's monologues are edited loops of instrumental music from sources as diverse as Miles Davis, Tangerine Dream, Can, Air and Antonio Carlos Jobim[4]. The repetitive music and Frank's dry, announcer-like delivery are sometimes mixed with recorded phone calls with actor/friends such as Larry Block, Debi Mae West and Arthur Miller, broken into "acts" over the course of each hourlong program. Frank's series The Other Side included excerpts from Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield's Dharma talks at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. In an interview on KPFA's the Morning Show, Kornfield was asked about working with Joe Frank. Kornfield explained that although he had never met or talked to Joe Frank or heard his show, he didn't mind Frank using the lectures and that many of his meditation students had found Kornfield through the show. [edit] Other Work
[edit] 2002-PresentSince 2002, Frank has performed on stage in Chicago at the Chicago Art Institute, in San Francisco at the Great American Music Hall and in Los Angeles at Largo and other venues. In 2003, Joe Frank was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Third Coast International Audio Festival. His body of work (over 230 hours) continues to be aired on many NPR stations in the United States. The entire archives, along with Joe Frank film shorts and other extras, are available by subscription to his web site. Frank continues to write new work for the stage and his web site. [edit] Inspiration to Other ArtistsFrank's body of work has inspired a variety of other artists including:
[edit] Voiceover and Acting WorkJoe Frank has done voice over work for commercials including Zima, and Saturn Corporation. He was the voice of the computer in Galaxy Quest and provides voiceover for:
He also had a small acting role in The Game.[7] [edit] Awards[edit] During NPR Playhouse[8]
[edit] During Work In Progress
[edit] External links
[edit] References
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