Frankie Smith


Franklyn Leon Smith was an American funk musician and R&B/soul songwriter. He was best known for his 1981 hit single "Double [Dutch Bus]".

Career

Smith went to college in Tennessee for elementary education with a minor in music. He became a writer for funk and soul artists such as the O'Jays and The Spinners. In 1972 he would record for Paramount, releasing a single called "Double Dutch" under the name Franklin Franklin, but it failed to become a hit. He was also influential in the careers of the rappers Tone Loc, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg.
With his 1981 single "Double Dutch Bus", released by WMOT Records, Smith popularized a nonsensical form of slang, in which "iz" is placed in the middle of a word, or the last letters of a word are replaced with "-izzle". A type of infix, it found greater popularity later on in hip hop and rap with its usage by Snoop Dogg.

Death

Smith died in Philadelphia on March 8, 2019, at the age of 79.

Discography

Albums

  • 1981: Children of Tomorrow
  • 2006: ''Frankie Smith and His World Wide Party Crew''

Singles

  • 1980: "Double Dutch Bus"
  • 1980: "Double Dutch"
  • 1981: "The Auction"
  • 1981: "Teeny-Bopper Lady"
  • 1982: "Double Dutch Bus II"
  • 1982: "Yo-Yo Champ "
  • 1985: "Slapp Ya Thigh"
  • 1985: "Congratulations for Graduating"