Lost State of Franklin was conceived in late December 2005 in Matt Texter's dining room in Erie, PA and born December 25th in Jonesborough, Tennessee. The band is a result of chance meetings of like-minded people with varied backgrounds and tastes.

How it all came about: In summer 2005, Scott was playing a rock set at Mike's Barn in Elyria, OH. Rob happened by, thinking there was a jam session. Almost persuaded by his brother to leave, Rob stayed and caught the last two songs of Scott's set, including Folsom Prison. In staying, Rob was recognized by Mike, who asked him to play a set and to replay Folsom Prison. When Scott heard Rob's authentic yet original country style of guitar playing, he said to himself, 'If I ever record my country tunes, that guy is going to be on the record.' That December, with plans to record his country songs for documentation sake, Scott invited Rob to a rehearsal with his friend Matt Texter in Erie. That night, Rob and Scott decided to form a band.

While visiting his folks in Jonesborough, TN for Christmas, Scott saw a street called State of Franklin and in researching its meaning fell upon the history of the 'Lost State of Franklin', an American state in the late 1700's dissolved by the materialization of Tennessee. The capital of the State of Franklin had been Jonesborough, and Scott found this even more reason to use the name. Three weeks after the naming, Rob casually mentioned that, 'Oh yeah...my middle name is Franklin.' So James Scott Franklin and Rob Franklin Muzick had officially founded Lost State of Franklin. Since Scott had already been invited to perform a Johnny Cash Tribute show in Chicago, he asked Rob to come along. Rob suggested booking shows out and back and every call Scott made to venues resulted in a yes. Chris Callan (a jazz guitarist) offered to join them on bass, and the plans were set for a week and a half tour. Suddenly, however, Chris moved to Detroit and Rob suggested getting an upright bass player to go on tour. Scott remembered a neighbor from 5 years back with whom he'd recently been reacquainted. David Mooser, bn. Switzerland, raised in London, had no background in country music and had toured as a rock bass player with the famed EtherNet. He was retired for 3 years from music and owned an upright that he'd hardly ever played. But from the first note of the first practice, Rob and Scott knew that with some work, this was going to happen.

With David, came his girlfriend Lisa, who was an instant supporter and member of the band, helping organize the networking and goals. As well, she put up with many hours of being distracted from her homework while the band rehearsed in the basement. Along the way, Ed Mills Jr., a 50 something year old inner-city gym teacher and former pal of Scott's (from his teaching days) played washboard on some shows, including their first one in Wooster, Oh. This is where they first met Rhia. Scott had met her a few months before and they'd talked for about five minutes. He didn't know why, but he'd invited her to this show to play mandolin even though she'd been playing 2 weeks and he'd never heard her. Rhia was a lifelong heavy metal rocker, and currently played keyboards for Dark Arena. A heavy metal act drawing crowds of 5-600 people. Yet she had never played guitar or mandolin on a stage until that night in Wooster. And as with every new member of the group: it was magic. Without Rhia and Ed, the band went on tour for a week and a half re-adding Chris Callan who shifted to rhythm guitar. During their many cities, they spent a few nights playing in Chicago and staying with Lisa's friend Lee, who was another key person in helping the band get organized online and to make new friends.Returning to Ohio meant returning to Rhia, who was at once a practiced and integral key member of Lost State of Franklin. Lost State of Franklin is founded and functioning on two principals, a love for what we do, and an appreciation of each other. There is not one person that makes up our band. There is not one person who is completely right, or correct, or the best. We are pieces of something that has come together, making history for as long as we can.