Don Francisco (musician): Difference between revisions

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			{{short description\|American Christian singer and songwriter}}
	] ] ] '''Don Francisco''' was born in ] in ], the son of a Christian ] ]. Even so, until the age of 28, he pursued a career singing ] music, until an experience (which he saw as being ]) persuaded him to start playing Christian music. His style is mainly ], but he has recorded songs which cover the spectrum from ]ic to ].
			{{Distinguish\|Don Francisco (television host)}}
			{{Use mdy dates\|date=November 2016}}
			{{Use American English\|date=July 2020}}

			'''Don Francisco''' (born February 28, 1946) is an independent American singer, ], and musician, specializing in the field of ]. He has won two ], 1980 song of the year (for "He's Alive"), and 1980 Songwriter of the year.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.doveawards.com/history.php?x=artist \|title=42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards on gmc \|publisher=Doveawards.com \|accessdate=January 9, 2012 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323103415/http://www.doveawards.com/history.php?x=artist \|archivedate=March 23, 2011 \|df=mdy }}</ref>
	He is most well known for his ] songs, for example 'too small a price' in which he sings from the point of view of one of the two thieves ] with ], and his comforting narratives including 'I'll never let go of your hand'.

			==Background==
	One of his most famous story songs is the only one not taken directly from a bible story. "The package" (re-recorded a number of times for a number of albums) is the story of a man woken up early in the morning by ] knocking on his door with a package for him.
			Don Francisco was born in ], the son of a Christian ] ] ]. Francisco pursued a career in secular music before rededicating his life to God after an experience he believed was ].<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/don-francisco-mn0000149170/biography\|title=Don Francisco - Biography & History - AllMusic\|website=AllMusic\|accessdate=November 27, 2017}}</ref> Francisco has a son Uri (born 1974) with his first wife Karen,<ref>{{cite web \| url=https://crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Don_Francisco_The_American_songsmith_creating_Biblical_storiesinsong/36554/p2/ \| title=Page 2 of Don Francisco: The American songsmith creating Biblical stories-in-song - Don Francisco }}</ref> from whom he divorced in 1994.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/don-francisco/features/don-francisco-a-one-trick-pony/ \|title=Don Francisco \| Don Francisco: A One-Trick Pony \| TodaysChristianMusic.com \|website=www.todayschristianmusic.com \|access-date=12 January 2022 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105032251/http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/don-francisco/features/don-francisco-a-one-trick-pony/ \|archive-date=5 November 2016 \|url-status=dead}}</ref> Francisco is currently married to his second wife Wendy, who is also a recording artist as well as a graphic artist, and lives in Colorado.

			==Music career==
	He occasionally goes on the road with a full band (often with the support of ]), but most often he and his wife, Wendy, perform as a duo.
			In 1977 Don Francisco recorded "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" for the album ''Forgiven''. It is one of the most uncompromising songs he has ever written and it is considered by many to be one of his best songs.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/don-francisco/features/don-francisco-a-one-trick-pony/ \|title=Don Francisco \| Don Francisco: A One-Trick Pony \| TodaysChristianMusic.com \|accessdate=2016-11-04 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105032251/http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/don-francisco/features/don-francisco-a-one-trick-pony/ \|archivedate=November 5, 2016 \|df=mdy-all }} Called "one of the best folk gospel ballads of all time" by Cashbox Magazine.</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/artists/francisco_don.aspx?mobile=false&u=1\|title=Don Francisco\|publisher=\|accessdate=November 6, 2016}}</ref> ] re-released the original album ''Forgiven'' along with ''Got to Tell Somebody'', and put them both on one CD in 1988. That re-release left the song "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" off in order to fit both albums on one 70-minute CD.<ref>Original double CD pressing, dated 1988</ref> However, they did release the ''Forgiven'' album in the early 1990s with that song on it, along with all others, on their "Right Price" line of CDs.

			Eventually after 1994, Don Francisco opted to operate independently, which, while affording him more control, seems to have had no ill effect on his musical output or quality. On the contrary, albums released after have gradually gained the use of further session work and demonstrate an even greater range of styles.
	==Discography ==
	Out of print CDs are still available on CDr direct from the artist.
	*Brother of the Son ] (out of Print)
	*Forgiven] (out of Print)
	*Got to Tell Somebody ] (out of Print)
	*The Traveler ] (out of Print)
	*The Live Concert ] (out of Print)
	*Holiness ] (out of Print)
	*One Heart at a Time ] (out of Print)
	*The Poet ] (out of Print?)
	*Power ] (out of Print)
	*High Praise ] (out of Print)
	*Live in the UK ] (out of Print)
	*Early Works ] (out of Print?)
	*Vision of the Valley ] (out of Print)
	*Come Away ] (out of Print)
	*He's Alive ]
	*Genesis and Job (out of Print)
	*Beautiful to Me ]
	*Grace on Grace ]
	*Only Love is Spoken Here ]
	*The Package
	*The Promises ] (Spoken Word)
	*That I May Know You ]

			In 2003 Francisco released ''The Promises'', which consists almost entirely of selected and paraphrased readings from the Bible. The disc is a collaboration between Don and his wife Wendy.
	===collections===
	*He's Alive, Collection Vol. I ]
	*He's Alive, Collection Vol. II ]
	*He's Alive, Collection Vol. III ]

	==~~Overview~~==		==Musical style==
			Francisco's style is fairly distinctive, focusing on acoustic instruments barren of modern production techniques and concentrates on the narratives of the songs, using ballad styles or speaking through the music that interprets Scriptural events or Biblical lessons.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=13901\|title=He's Alive by Don Francisco Songfacts\|website=www.songfacts.com\|accessdate=November 27, 2017}}</ref> This is specifically with respect to the teachings of ] and his messages of "unconditional love" ("I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping"), salvation ("Give Your Heart a Home"), and a lesson against religious self-righteousness and pharisaic condemnation ("Beautiful To Me"). As is the case with many singer-songwriters advocating a specific religious belief or philosophical viewpoint through music, Francisco uses his adaptations and interpretations as the means to convey what he feels are the most important teachings of the ] scriptures.

			Some of Don Francisco's songs deal with what his site calls ] where the habit of church life replaces actual Christianity.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://reimaginingchurch.org/endorsements/\|title=Endorsements - Reimagining Church\|date=October 14, 2015\|publisher=\|accessdate=November 27, 2017}}</ref>
	In 1997 Don Francisco recorded "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" for the "He's Alive" album. According to the members website: "We get more letters about the healing impact this of song than any other except He's Alive." However, the recording company he was with at that time were worried by the content of the song and might offend people because it was "too radical" and so they deleted it. Ironically, it is considered by many to be one of his best songs.

			==Barred from the UK==
	It was for reasons such as this that eventually Don Fancisco opted to operate independently which while affording him more control seems to have had no ill effect on his musical output or quality.
			In March 2009, Don Francisco was scheduled to perform in an Easter music program called "Why Good Friday?" in the English port town of ] in Dorset, but was barred from entering the United Kingdom after listing his occupation as "gospel singer" and failing to obtain a religious worker visa and a certificate of sponsorship, a new requirement that the organizers of the concert were unaware of. That year the United Kingdom phased in an immigration system that increased scrutiny for religious workers traveling to the country.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://saf.eauk.org/media/immigration.cfm \|title=Immigration rules throw churches into confusion \|publisher=Eauk.org \|accessdate=April 20, 2014 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421064200/http://saf.eauk.org/media/immigration.cfm \|archivedate=April 21, 2014 \|df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/june/1.13.html \|title=Customs Confusion \|publisher=Christianity Today \|date= May 14, 2009\|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4191394.you-cant-come-in/ \|title = You can't come in! {{!}} Bournemouth Echo\| date=March 10, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web \|url=https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/news/Don_Deported/35291/p1/ \|title = Don Deported: Don Francisco stopped at UK airport}}</ref>

			==Discography==
	Some of Don Fransisco's songs deal with what his site calls ] where the habit of church life replaces actual Christianity. Such songs include: "Stand Up" ("Only Love is Spoken Here", ]), "Steeple Song", "Everybody Else But Me" & "Beautiful to Me" ("Beautiful to Me", ]), "The Rule of the Spirit" & "Call Nobody Teacher Here, my child" ("Grace on Grace", ]) and "Pushin On" which is currently unreleased and available only from his websites members only download section.
			===Studio albums===
			* 1976 ''Brother of the Son''
			* 1977 ''Forgiven''
			* 1979 ''Got to Tell Somebody''
			* 1981 ''The Traveler''
			* 1984 ''Holiness''
			* 1985 ''One Heart at a Time''
			* 1987 ''The Power''
			* 1988 ''High Praise''
			* 1991 ''Vision of the Valley''
			* 1992 ''Come Away''
			* 1994 ''Genesis and Job''
			* 1999 ''Grace on Grace''
			* 2001 ''Only Love is Spoken Here''
			* 2003 ''The Promises'' (Spoken Word)
			* 2005 ''That I May Know You''
			* 2007 ''The Sower''
			* 2009 ''Let It Ride''
			* 2012 ''Carols on Guitar''
			* 2014 ''Forever My Friend''

			===Live albums===
	Don Francisco released an "album" which consists only of selected and paraphrased readings from the Bible. The disk is called "The Promises" and is a collaboration between Don and Wendy Francisco released in ] under the ] label.
			* 1982 ''The Live Concert''
	Track Listing:
			* 1989 ''Live in the UK''
	*"]"
			* 2017 ''Acoustic Live Concert'' (two-CD)
	*"]"
	*"]"
	*"]"
	*"]"
	*"]"
	*"]"
	*"]"
	*"]"
	*"]"

			===Compilations===
	==Don Francisco and Copyright==
			* 1985 ''The Poet''
	Like any artist Don Fransisco retains full copyright on all his work but provides cord charts and lyrics for most of his songs. In addition to this many of his albams have been recorded sans-lyrics so that an enthusastic fan might sing them for themselves.
			* 1991 ''The Early Works''
			* 1996 ''Word Pictures''
			* 1999 ''Balladeer Tales''
			* 1996 ''He's Alive, Collection Vol. I''
			* 1998 ''Beautiful To Me, Collection Vol. II''
			* 2004 ''The Package, Collection Vol. III''

			==References==
	In addition to this rather liberal approach to the base material his site activly encourages it's download members to create CD's for friends that might appreciate (the site actually says "...might be blessed...") a custom Don Fransisco and Freinds CD with the limits against sale and so forth and the simple requirement that the website URL be written on each CD.
			{{Reflist}}

	==External ~~Link~~==		==External links==
			* {{Official website\|http://www.donfrancisco.com/}} - contains albums, MP3s, a member area with lyrics and guitar chords, and ministry updates
	*
			* {{Discogs artist\|Don Francisco (2)\|Don Francisco}}
	* (alt)

			{{Authority control}}

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Francisco, Don}}
	{{US-bio-stub}}
			]
	{{musician-stub}}
			]

			]
	]
	]		]
			]
			]

Latest revision as of 11:21, 25 March 2024

American Christian singer and songwriter Not to be confused with Don Francisco (television host).

Don Francisco (born February 28, 1946) is an independent American singer, songwriter, and musician, specializing in the field of contemporary Christian music. He has won two Dove awards, 1980 song of the year (for "He's Alive"), and 1980 Songwriter of the year.

Background

Don Francisco was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of a Christian seminary professor Clyde T. Francisco. Francisco pursued a career in secular music before rededicating his life to God after an experience he believed was supernatural. Francisco has a son Uri (born 1974) with his first wife Karen, from whom he divorced in 1994. Francisco is currently married to his second wife Wendy, who is also a recording artist as well as a graphic artist, and lives in Colorado.

Music career

In 1977 Don Francisco recorded "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" for the album Forgiven. It is one of the most uncompromising songs he has ever written and it is considered by many to be one of his best songs. Benson Records re-released the original album Forgiven along with Got to Tell Somebody, and put them both on one CD in 1988. That re-release left the song "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" off in order to fit both albums on one 70-minute CD. However, they did release the Forgiven album in the early 1990s with that song on it, along with all others, on their "Right Price" line of CDs.

Eventually after 1994, Don Francisco opted to operate independently, which, while affording him more control, seems to have had no ill effect on his musical output or quality. On the contrary, albums released after have gradually gained the use of further session work and demonstrate an even greater range of styles.

In 2003 Francisco released The Promises, which consists almost entirely of selected and paraphrased readings from the Bible. The disc is a collaboration between Don and his wife Wendy.

Musical style

Francisco's style is fairly distinctive, focusing on acoustic instruments barren of modern production techniques and concentrates on the narratives of the songs, using ballad styles or speaking through the music that interprets Scriptural events or Biblical lessons. This is specifically with respect to the teachings of Jesus Christ and his messages of "unconditional love" ("I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping"), salvation ("Give Your Heart a Home"), and a lesson against religious self-righteousness and pharisaic condemnation ("Beautiful To Me"). As is the case with many singer-songwriters advocating a specific religious belief or philosophical viewpoint through music, Francisco uses his adaptations and interpretations as the means to convey what he feels are the most important teachings of the Judeo-Christian scriptures.

Some of Don Francisco's songs deal with what his site calls Churchianity where the habit of church life replaces actual Christianity.

Barred from the UK

In March 2009, Don Francisco was scheduled to perform in an Easter music program called "Why Good Friday?" in the English port town of Poole in Dorset, but was barred from entering the United Kingdom after listing his occupation as "gospel singer" and failing to obtain a religious worker visa and a certificate of sponsorship, a new requirement that the organizers of the concert were unaware of. That year the United Kingdom phased in an immigration system that increased scrutiny for religious workers traveling to the country.

Discography

Studio albums

1976 Brother of the Son
1977 Forgiven
1979 Got to Tell Somebody
1981 The Traveler
1984 Holiness
1985 One Heart at a Time
1987 The Power
1988 High Praise
1991 Vision of the Valley
1992 Come Away
1994 Genesis and Job
1999 Grace on Grace
2001 Only Love is Spoken Here
2003 The Promises (Spoken Word)
2005 That I May Know You
2007 The Sower
2009 Let It Ride
2012 Carols on Guitar
2014 Forever My Friend

Live albums

1982 The Live Concert
1989 Live in the UK
2017 Acoustic Live Concert (two-CD)

Compilations

1985 The Poet
1991 The Early Works
1996 Word Pictures
1999 Balladeer Tales
1996 He's Alive, Collection Vol. I
1998 Beautiful To Me, Collection Vol. II
2004 The Package, Collection Vol. III

References

"42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards on gmc". Doveawards.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
"Don Francisco - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
"Page 2 of Don Francisco: The American songsmith creating Biblical stories-in-song - Don Francisco".
"Don Francisco | Don Francisco: A One-Trick Pony | TodaysChristianMusic.com". www.todayschristianmusic.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
"Don Francisco | Don Francisco: A One-Trick Pony | TodaysChristianMusic.com". Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016. Called "one of the best folk gospel ballads of all time" by Cashbox Magazine.
"Don Francisco". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
Original double CD pressing, dated 1988
"He's Alive by Don Francisco Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
"Endorsements - Reimagining Church". October 14, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
"Immigration rules throw churches into confusion". Eauk.org. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
"Customs Confusion". Christianity Today. May 14, 2009. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
"You can't come in! | Bournemouth Echo". March 10, 2009.
"Don Deported: Don Francisco stopped at UK airport".

External links

Official website - contains albums, MP3s, a member area with lyrics and guitar chords, and ministry updates
Don Francisco discography at Discogs

Categories: