In The Center / Youll Never Know / Rodne

Born on September 16th, 1958 in the city of Berkeley, young Rodney was drawn to music when he was three. He started piano lessons at six years old when he attended the Washington Elementary School. The school's principal was a man called Herb Wong, who, when he wasn't teaching music, was a noted US jazz journalist and radio DJ. Given his close connection with the jazz world, Wong often invited professional musicians to play in school assemblies. It was on one of these occasions that young Rodney Franklin got a chance to sit next to jazz great, pianist Oscar Peterson, and watch him play. It was a moment that changed his life.