Christopher Franke

Christopher Franke
Background information
Also known asChris Franke
Born (1953-04-06) 6 April 1953 (age 72)
OriginBerlin, Germany
GenresElectronica, Ambient, Rock, New Age, World
Occupation(s)Musician, Composer, Songwriter
Instrument(s)Synthesizers, Keyboards
Formerly ofTangerine Dream
Websitechristopherfranke.com

Christopher Franke, born 6 April, 1953, is best known as a German pioneer of electronic music and a Hollywood composer for film and television.[1] He studied composition at Berlin Conservatory where his influences included Karlheinz Stockhausen and John Cage.[2]

Franke was a member of the group Tangerine Dream from 1970 to 1987[3] where he was dubbed the "Sequencer King" for his use of analog sequencer on stage.[4] His use of sequencers with the band is attributed to molding its fast hypnotic style,[2] including on its Phaedra in 1973.[5] This album paved the way for the classic style of the group and attributed to the Berlin school of sound.[6]

After leaving Tangerine Dream, Franke performed a number of solo projects. He performed live in 1991 at the Astoria Theatre in London. Recorded live with Edgar Rothermich, who also produced and engineered most of his projects, it was released as a full-length album in 1993.[7] In 1991, Franke opened a recording studio in West Hollywood and began composing the music for featured films that included Universal Soldier, Tarzan and the Lost City, and Night of the Running Man. The following year, he founded the record label Sonic Images to release soundtracks, Electronica, and World Music.[8] He also released Pacific Coast Highway, his first solo album outside of Tangerine Dream.[9]

For television, Franke has composed music for a number of television shows including for the Sci-Fi series Babylon 5[10] and Pacific Blue to name a few.[11]

Discography

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Solo

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with Tangerine Dream

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Major Releases

Filmography

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Film and Television Projects

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( * with Tangerine Dream )

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  • 2003-2025: THE AMAZING RACE TV Series, CBS, 2003 - 2025, 350 episodes produced by BERT VAN MUNSTER, ELISE DOGANIERI
  • 1994 - 1998: BABYLON 5 TV Series, Warner Bros., 1994 - 1998, 110 episodes produced by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, JOHN COPELAND, DOUG NETTER
  • 1992: UNIVERSAL SOLDIER Carolco, 1992 directed by ROLAND EMMERICH, produced by MARIO KASSAR, ALLEN SHAPIRO, CRAIG BAUMGARTEN, JOEL B. MICHAELS, starring JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME, DOLPH LUNDGREN, ALLY WALKER
  • 1983: RISKY BUSINESS * The Geffen Company / Warner Bros., 1983 directed by PAUL BRICKMAN, produced by JON AVNET, starring TOM CRUISE, REBECCA DE MORNAY
  • 1996 - 2000: PACIFIC BLUE TV Series, USA Network, 1996 - 2000, 101 episodes produced by BILL NUSS, GARY NARDINO
  • 2004: HOOLIGANS Odd Lot Entertainment, 2004 directed by LEXI ALEXANDER, produced by GIGI PRITZKER, DEBORAH DEL PRETE, starring ELIJAH WOOD, CHARLIE HUNNAM
  • 2004: WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW? Lord Of The Wind Films, 2004 directed by WILLIAM ARNTZ, BETSY CHASSE, produced by WILLIAM ARNTZ, BETSY CHASSE, MARK VICENTE, starring MARLEE MATLIN
  • 1981: THIEF * United Artists, 1981 directed by MICHAEL MANN, produced by JERRY BRUCKHEIMER, RONNIE CAAN, starring JAMES CAAN
  • 1997: SORCERER * Universal / Paramount, 1977 directed and produced by WILLIAM FRIEDKIN, starring ROY SCHEIDER
  • 1986: LEGEND * Universal, 1986 directed by RIDLEY SCOTT, produced by ARNON MILCHAN, starring TOM CRUISE, MIA SARA, TIM CURRY
  • 2007: BABYLON 5: THE LOST TALES Warner Brothers, 2007 directed by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, SARA BARNES, produced by J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI, DOUG NETTER, starring BRUCE BOXLEITNER
  • 1983: THE KEEP * Paramount, 1983 directed by MICHAEL MANN, produced by GENE KIRKWOOD, HOWARD W. KOCH, starring SCOTT GLENN, GABRIEL BYRNE
  • 2005 - 2008: SUPERNANNY TV Series, ABC, 2005 - 2008 directed by CRAIG ARMSTRONG, NICK POWELL
  • 1996: SOLO Sony, 1996 directed by NORBERTO BARBA, produced by JOHN FLOCK, JOSEPH COHEN, starring MARIO VAN PEEBLES
  • 1984: FIRESTARTER * Universal, 1984 directed by MARK L. LESTER, produced by DINO DE LAURENTIIS, FRANK CAPRA JR., starring DREW BARRYMORE, HEATHER LOCKLEAR
  • 1999: FORTRESS 2 Sony, 1999 directed by GEOFF MURPHY, produced by JOHN FLOCK, starring CHRISTOPHER LAMBERT
  • 1997: TARZAN AND THE LOST CITY Warner Bros. / Village Roadshow, 1997 directed by CARL SCHENKEL, produced by GREG COOTE, DIETER GEISSLER, KURT SILBERSCHNEIDER, starring CASPER VAN DIEN, JANE MARCH
  • 1991: EYE OF THE STORM Strongmaster Productions, 1991 directed by YURI ZELTSER, produced by ROLAND EMMERICH, CARSTEN LORENZ, starring LARA FLYNN BOYLE, DENNIS HOPPER
  • 1991: MC BAIN Shapiro / Glickenhaus Productions, 1991 directed by JAMES GLICKENHAUS, produced by BOYCE HARMAN, starring CHRISTOPHER WALKEN, MICHAEL IRONSIDE, MARIA CONCHITA ALONZO
  • 1993: STEPHEN KING'S THE TOMMYKNOCKERS TV Movie, ABC, The Konigsberg / Sanitsky Co., 1993 directed by JOHN POWER, produced by LARRY SANITSKY, FRANK KONIGSBERG, starring JIMMY SMITS, MARG HELGENBERGER
  • 1982: IDENTIFICATION OF A WOMAN * Iter Film / Gaumont, 1982 directed and produced by MICHELANGELO ANTONIONI, starring TOMAS MILIAN
  • 1984: FLASHPOINT * Tri-Star, 1984 directed by WILLIAM TANNEN, produced by SKIP SHORT, starring KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, TREAT WILLIAMS
  • 1985: THE PARK IS MINE * TV Movie, Astral Film Enterprises / HBO Premiere Films, 1985 directed by STEVEN HILLIARD STERN, produced by DENIS HEROUX, JOHN KEMENY, staring TOMMY LEE JONES
  • 1987: SHY PEOPLE * Cannon, 1987 directed by ANDREI KONCHALOVSKY, produced by YORAM GLOBUS, MENAHEM GOLAN, starring JILL CLAYBURGH, BARBARA HERSHEY
  • 2003: FOOTSTEPS TV Movie, CBS, 2003 directed by JOHN BADHAM, produced by KEN RASKOFF, starring CANDICE BERGEN
  • 1993 - 2000: WALKER - TEXAS RANGER TV Series, CBS, Amadea Productions, 1993 - 2000 produced by JOHN ASHLEY, FRANK LUPO
  • 1982: THE SOLDIER * Embassy, 1982 directed by JAMES GLICKENHAUS, produced by BOYCE HARMAN, starring KEN WAHL
  • 1983: WAVELENGTH * New World, 1983 directed by MIKE GRAY, produced by JAMES ROSENFIELD, starring ROBERT CARRADINE
  • 1984: HEARTBREAKERS * Orion, 1984 directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by LEE MUHL, HARRY COOPER, JOSEF FRANK, starring NICK MANCUSO
  • 1985: FORBIDDEN * TV Movie, HBO Premiere Films / Mark Forstater Productions, 1985 directed by ANTHONY PAGE, produced by MARK FORSTATER, starring JACQUELINE BISSET
  • 1985: VISION QUEST * Warner Bros., 1985 directed by HAROLD BECKER, produced by JON PETERS, starring MATTHEW MODINE, LINDA FIORENTINO
  • 1985: STREET HAWK * TV Series, Limekiln and Templar Productions / Universal TV, 1985 produced by PAUL BELOUS, BOB WALTERSDORF
  • 1987: NEAR DARK * DEG, 1987 directed by KATHRYN BIGELOW, produced by ED FELDMANN, starring LANCE HENRIKSEN
  • 1987: 3 O'CLOCK HIGH * Universal, 1987 directed by PHIL JOANOU, produced by DAVID VOGEL, starring RICHARD TYSON
  • 1987: TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT * TV Movie, Phoenix Entertainment Group, 1987 Directed and produced by BOBBY ROTH, starring MAX GAIL, TRACY NELSON
  • 1987: CANYON DREAMS * Miramar, 1987 directed and produced by DAVID LANZ
  • 1987: DEADLY CARE * TV Movie, Universal TV, 1987 directed by DAVID ANSPAUGH, produced by MEDORA HEILBRON, starring CHERYL LADD
  • 1991: DRIVING ME CRAZY Motion Picture Corp. of America, 1991 directed by JON TURTELTAUB, produced by BRAD KREVOY, STEVE STABLER, starring MILTON BERLE, DOM DELOUISE, GEORGE KENNEDY
  • 1992: SHE WOKE UP TV Movie, ABC, Empty Chair Productions, 1992 directed by WARIS HUSSEIN, produced by LEONARD GOLDBERG, TERRY NELSON, starring LINDSAY WAGNER
  • 1992 - 1993: RAVEN TV Series, CBS, Invader Productions, 1992 - 1993 produced by JOHN ASHLEY, FRANK LUPO
  • 1993: TALES FROM THE CRYPT Episode Came the Dawn TV Series, HBO, 1993 directed by ULI EDEL, produced by JOEL SILVER, GIL ADLER, RICHARD DONNER
  • 1994 - 1997: MOVIE MAGIC TV Series, GRB Entertainment, 1994 - 1997 produced by MICHAEL BRANTON, GARY BENZ
  • 1993: YARN PRINCESS TV Movie, CBS, The Konigsberg / Sanitsky Co., 1993 directed by TOM McLOUGHLIN, produced by LARRY SANITSKY, FRANK KONIGSBERG, starring JEAN SMART, ROBERT PASTORELLI
  • 1993: ANGEL FALLS Mini-Series, CBS, The Konigsberg / Sanitsky Co., 1993 produced by LARRY SANITSKY, FRANK KONIGSBERG, starring KIM CATTRALL, JAMES BROLIN
  • 1994: THE SURGEON Capella, 1994 directed by CARL SCHENKEL, produced by ALAN BEATTIE, CHRIS CHESSER, WILLI BAER, starring MALCOLM McDOWELL, JAMES REMAR
  • 1996: PUBLIC ENEMIES Trimark Pictures, 1996 directed by MARK L. LESTER, produced by DANA DUBOVSKY, MARK L. LESTER, starring ALYSSA MILANO
  • 1994: BEYOND BETRAYAL TV Movie, CBS, Warner, 1994 directed by CARL SCHENKEL, produced by DAN BLATT, starring SUSAN DEY, DENNIS BOUTSIKARIS
  • 1994: M.A.N.T.I.S. TV Series, Fox / Universal, 1994 produced by JAMES McADAMS, BRYCE ZABEL
  • 1995: NIGHT OF THE RUNNING MAN American World Pictures, 1995 directed and produced by MARK L. LESTER, starring ANDREW McCARTHY, SCOTT GLENN
  • 1995: KIDNAPPED TV Movie, NBC, 1995 directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by KEN KAUFMAN, BOYCE HARMAN, starring DABNEY COLEMAN, TIMOTHY BUSFIELD
  • 1995: A FACE TO DIE FOR TV Movie, ABC, 1995 directed by JACK BENDER, produced by FRANK KONIGSBERG, starring YASMINE BLEETH, JAMES WILDER
  • 1996: MENNO'S MIND Showtime Networks, 1996 directed by JON KROLL, produced by LARRY ESTES, starring BILL CAMPBELL, STEPHANIE ROMANOV
  • 1996: CODE NAME: WOLVERINE TV Movie, Fox, 1996 directed by DAVID JACKSON, produced by MICHAEL CAMPUS, DAVID GINSBERG, starring ANTONIO SABATO JR., TRACI LIND, DANNY QUINN
  • 1996: TENCHI MUYO Pioneer Entertainment, 1996 directed by HIROSHI NEGISHI, produced by TARO MAKI, HIDEMI SATANI
  • 1996: TELL ME NO SECRETS TV Movie, ABC, 1996 directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by RANDY ROBERTSON, starring LORI LOUGHLIN, BRUCE GREENWOOD
  • 1997: THE INHERITANCE TV Movie, CBS, 1997 directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by TERRY DUNN MEURER, ED SELF, starring CARI SHAYNE, MAX GAIL, MEREDITH BAXTER
  • 1997: DEVIL'S CHILD TV Movie, ABC, 1997 directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by MARK S. GLICK, starring KIM DELANEY, THOMAS GIBSON
  • 1998: BABYLON 5 - IN THE BEGINNING TV Movie, TNT / Warner Bros., 1998 directed by MIKE VEJAR, produced by JOHN COPELAND
  • 1998: BABYLON 5 - THE GATHERING TV Movie, Warner Bros., 1998 directed by RICHARD COMPTON, produced by ROBERT LATHAM BROWN
  • 1998: TERROR IN THE MALL TV Movie, Warner Bros. / Universum Film AG, 1998 directed by NORBERTO BARBA, produced by KONSTANTIN THOEREN, starring ROB ESTES, SHANNON STURGES
  • 1998: BABYLON 5 - THIRDSPACE TV Movie, TNT / Warner Bros., 1998 directed by JESUS TREVINO, produced by JOHN COPELAND
  • 1997: MS BEAR Alliance Communications / Le Monde Entertainment, 1997 directed by PAUL ZILLER, produced by MARY SPARACIO, starring ED BEGLEY JR.
  • 1998: BABYLON 5 - RIVER OF SOULS TV Movie, TNT / Warner Bros., 1998 directed by JANET GREEK, produced by JOHN COPELAND
  • 1998: HYPERNAUTS TV Series, ABC, 1998 produced by RON THORNTON, JOHN COPELAND
  • 1999: LOST IN THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE TV Movie, Singer / White Entertainment, 1999 directed by NORBERTO BARBA, produced by SHERI SINGER, starring GRAHAM BECKEL
  • 1999: FROM STAR WARS TO STAR WARS - THE ILM STORY TV Movie, Lucasfilm, 1999 directed and produced by JON KROLL
  • 1999: THE OUTER LIMITS Episode Judgement Day TV Series, Showtime, 1999 directed by JIM KAUFMAN, produced by ALAN KATZ
  • 1999: A HOLIDAY ROMANCE TV Movie, CBS, 1999 directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by RANDI RICHMOND, starring NAOMI JUDD
  • 2000 - 2001: 18 WHEELS OF JUSTICE TV Series, Viacom, 2000 - 2001 produced by RICHARD OKIE
  • 2000: SEVENTEEN AGAIN TV Movie, Showtime, 2000 directed by JEFF BYRD, produced by BRANDON BATES, starring TIA MOWRY, TAMERA MOWRY
  • 2000: JACK THE DOG Jung N Restless, 2000 Directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by JEFFREY WHITE, starring NESTOR CARBONELL, JURGEN PROCHNOW, PETER COYOTE
  • 2000: THE CALLING Constantin, 2000 directed by RICHARD CAESAR, produced by BERND EICHINGER, NORBERT PREUSS, starring LAURA HARRIS, RICHARD LINTERN
  • 2001: DANCING AT THE HARVEST MOON TV Movie, CBS, 2001 directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by LARRY NEIMAN, starring JACQUELINE BISSET
  • 2001: MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS TV Movie, CBS, 2001 directed by CARL SCHENKEL, produced by DAN BLATT, starring ALFRED MOLINA, PETER STRAUSS
  • 2001: TURTLE HERO August Entertainment, 2001 directed by KIM, DUCK-HO, produced by PETER CHOI
  • 2001: WHEN DINOSAURS ROAMED AMERICA TV Movie, Discovery Channel, 2001 directed by PIERRE DE LESPINOIS, produced by JOHN COPELAND
  • 2002: BABYLON 5 - THE LEGEND OF THE RANGERS TV Movie, Warner Bros., 2002 directed by MICHAEL VEJAR, produced by RON McLEOD
  • 2002: JOHNNY FLYNTON Red Corner Productions, 2002 directed by LEXI ALEXANDER, produced by CHRISTOPHER MANS
  • 2002: Red Corner Productions, 2002 directed by LEXI ALEXANDER, produced by CHRISTOPHER MANS, starring DASH MIHOK
  • 2002: MUSIC BEHIND BARS TV Series, VH-1, 2002 produced by JAY BLUMENFELD
  • 2002: DEAR SANTA TV Movie, ABC, 2002 produced by ARNOLD SHAPIRO and ALLISON GRODNERhosted by JAMES BELUSHI
  • 2003: MANHOOD Jung N Restless, 2003 directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by JEFFREY WHITE, starring NESTOR CARBONELL, JOHN RITTER, JANEANE GAROFALO
  • 2003: HUNTER: BACK IN FORCE TV Movie, NBC, 2003 directed by JEFFERSON KIBBEE, produced by STEPHEN J. CANNELL, FRANK LUPO, STU SEGALL, FRED DRYER
  • 2003: HUNTER TV Series, NBC, 2003 produced by STEPHEN J. CANNELL, FRANK LUPO, SCOTT LEVITTA, FRED DRYER, starring FRED DRYER, STEPFANIE KRAMER
  • 2002: THE FAMILY TV Series, ABC, 2003 produced by ALLISON GRODNER, ARNOLD SHAPIRO, starring GEORGE HAMILTON
  • 2003: A DATE WITH DARKNESS: THE TRIAL AND CAPTURE OF ANDREW LUSTER TV Movie, Lifetime, 2003 directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by LARRY A. THOMPSON, starring JASON GEDRICK, MARLA SOKOLOFF
  • 2003: THE ELIZABETH SMART STORY TV Movie, CBS, 2003 directed by BOBBY ROTH, produced by JEFF MORTON, PATRICIA CLIFFORD, starring AMBER MARSHALL, DYLAN BAKER

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Burlingame, Jon (2023). Music for Prime Time. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780190618308.
  2. ^ a b Partridge, Christopher; Moberg, Marcus (15 June 2023). The Bloomsbury Handbook of Religion and Popular Music. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781350286993.
  3. ^ "Leader of Tangerine Dream, the electronic band whose influence has been felt for more than four decades". The Independent. 28 January 2015.
  4. ^ "Chris Franke: The Sequencer King". Sound on Sound. 1 May 1994.
  5. ^ Osborne, Ben (29 July 2019). "Game Changer: How Tangerine Dream's 'Phaedra' set the template for ambient electronics". DJ Mag.
  6. ^ Sfetcu, Nicolae (7 May 2014). The Music Sound.
  7. ^ "The London Concert". Voices in the Net.
  8. ^ "Labels Key in to Books' Messages". Billboard. 6 December 1997.
  9. ^ "Franke, Christopher". Cue Records.
  10. ^ Wilds, Stephen (22 February 2023). "The Legacy of Babylon 5: 30 years in the wake of the shadows". Space.
  11. ^ Wagner, Matthias (22 November 2016). 3000 Plattenkritiken (in German). ISBN 9783741869433.
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