During his lifetime, Franz received dozens of awards, honors and recognitions for his contribution to jazz, and music in general. Here are some of the most notable:
Every year, the Jazz Institute of Chicago selects the photo of a great Chicago jazz musician to grace their promotional materials for the Jazz Club Tour which kicks off the annual Chicago Jazz Festival. In 2008, Franz's picture was selected as a tribute to his legacy to JIC and to Chicago.
Franz was honored with a brief musical tribute at the Festival on August 30, 2008. Eric Schneider, Art Hoyle, Tom Hope, Dan DeLorenzo and Robert Cousins - some of Chicago's best musicians - remembered Franz with a few of his most memorable tunes including "I Want To Be Happy", "Struttin' With Some Barbecue", and "Huff and Puff". Below are some pics from the afternoon:
