Michael Franks is an American singer and songwriter, considered a leader of the Quiet Storm genre. He has recorded with a variety of well-known artists, singers, and musicians such as: Astrud Gilberto, Peggy Lee, Joe Sample, Michael Brecker, Chuck Loeb, Art Garfunkel, Randy Brecker, Brenda Russell, Bonnie Raitt, David Sanborn, Claus Ogerman, Eumir Deodato, Toots Thielemans, Art Farmer, Artie Traum, Hubert Laws, Livingston Taylor, Randy Van Warmer, Patti Austin, Me Phi Me, Orleans, and Kenny Rankin, among many others.

His songs have been recorded by: Natalie Cole, Diana Krall, Lyle Lovett, Kurt Elling, Til Bronner, Ringo Starr, Melissa Manchester, The Carpenters, Mark Murphy, Gordon Haskell, Mark/Almond, Patti LaBelle, jazz guitarists Howard Roberts and Sylvain Luc, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, John Pizzarelli, Carmen McRae, Veronica Nunn, Al Jarreau, Joe Sample, Shirley Bassey, Lani Hall,The Manhattan Transfer, Leo Sidran, Dee Dee Bridgewater and many others.

He has written songs with Antonio Carlos Jobim, Joe Sample, Djavan, John Guerin, the Yellowjackets, Rob Mounsey and Charles Blenzig.