Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Black Music MagazineBlack Music Magazine
0

Music

Cleve Francis’s ‘unsung’ story, still inspiring Black country artists

It was the early 1990s, and Francis was an Alexandria, Va.-based cardiologist who happened to have a singing voice that stopped listeners in their tracks. Even though he thought of music mostly as an enjoyable side project, releasing songs when he could and performing at local venues, he caught the attention of country music industry executives who urged him to move to Music City and take a real shot at becoming a full-time recording artist.

Francis had doubts, so he called his music producer friend, Moses Dillard. “I said, ‘I’m in my 40s now. I’ve got a cardiology practice,’ ” Francis recalled in an interview.

But Dillard was insistent: “He said, ‘You are the only Black person on the face of the Earth who has this opportunity. You need to go. … You have to hold this spot. You weren’t given all these talents for nothing.’ ”

So he went. Francis signed with Liberty Records (now Capitol Records Nashville), becoming one of a small group of Black artists to have a major-label recording contract since Charley Pride signed with RCA in the mid-1960s. Francis released his debut major-label album, “Tourist in Paradise,” in the spring of 1992.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Read More: The WP

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You May Also Like

Music

More than 50 years after his passing, the legendary Louis Armstrong is back on the charts with the release of his first-ever Christmas album,...

New Music

Ty Dolla $ign was briefly hospitalized on Saturday (November 26) after suffering a nasty skateboarding accident. The West Coast crooner alerted fans to his...

Music

ATL-based Queen Of Da Souf rapper Latto releases her highly anticipated new album 777 via RCA Records – click here to listen. Her latest project includes her previously released tracks – the electric single “Wheelie” featuring 21...

News

Jaidyn, who also shares toddler son Javaughn J Porter with the ‘Thotiana’ rapper, takes to her Instagram account to share a glimpse of their...

Advertisement