Mike Francis

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Mike Francis at "The Place" in Rome (February 2006)

Mike Francis (* 26. April 1961 in Florence as Francesco Puccioni ; † thirtieth January 2009 in Rome ) was an Italian singer and composer.

Career

Mike Francis was one of the most successful Italian pop singers of the 1980s. He formed his first band at the age of 14 with classmates in Rome. There he attended the Institute of American Studies ; this was also the reason why most of his texts are written in English.

In 1984 he had his biggest hit. With Survivor he landed at the top of the Italian charts. Top positions also followed in other countries such as Germany and England. In the same year he wrote the hit Friends for disco queen Amii Stewart , which also made it into the top 10 . Thanks to his sensitive, soft voice, which was always in the foreground, he achieved more hits. These include timeless classics such as Let Me In , Features Of Love and Together . Francis also composed music for TV and movies.

It wasn't until the beginning of the 1990s that Mike Francis first recorded a few albums in his native language . His first album In Italiano became the summer soundtrack of 1991 in his homeland, where it gave him the same status as Eros Ramazzotti or Raf . Here, too, his music was always influenced by the soul, funk and disco of the 80s.

In the new millennium things became quieter for Mike Francis. He withdrew from singing and concentrated on his project Mystic Diversions , on which world music and chill-out can be heard.

comeback

The successful DJ duo Blank & Jones was able to persuade Mike Francis to step in front of a microphone for them again in 2005. On their "Relax" series, they presented the Van Morrison classic Someone Like You together . Due to the pleasant collaboration, it was decided in 2007 to record a whole Blank & Jones album ( Relax Edition Three ). Mike Francis' voice can be heard on every single track. Some of his hits like Friends or That Loving Feeling were also re-recorded for this. Also includes a new recording of the 1986 single City Lights by William Pitt and the single Josephine by Chris Rea from 1985.

In the same year, after a ten-year break, his album Inspired was released in Italy . This was released on the Blank & Jones own label Soundcolours.

On January 30, 2009, Mike Francis died of longstanding lung cancer .

In a letter of condolence , Piet Blank wrote: Francesco was not only a great singer to work with in recent years, he was also one of my greatest sources of inspiration since I discovered his music as a teenager in the 1980s. A big dream came true for me back then when he was on the microphone for our first song "Someone Like You" in 2005. Not only was he a musical genius, but also one of the kindest and most selfless people I have ever met. Everything he did came from the heart and was always positive and optimistic. We will miss you!

Blank & Jones, who not only worked with Mike Francis but also had a close friendship, put together the first collection of his works with his family. The album Anthology will be released on September 16, 2011 . On this, among other things, you can hear songs that are absolutely enthusiastic, such as his very first single "Love Has Found You" or a live recording of the Marvin Gaye classic "Let's Get It On".

Discography

  • 1984: Let's not talk about it
  • 1985: Features of love
  • 1986: Mike Francis
  • 1987: Songs (compilation)
  • 1988: Flashes of life
  • 1990: Live in Manila (live album)
  • 1991: Mike Francis in italiano
  • 1992: Classics (Compilation)
  • 1994: Francesco Innamorato
  • 1995: The very best - Live (Live album)
  • 1995: A different air
  • 1998: Misteria
  • 1998: The best of (compilation)
  • 1999: All rooms with a view
  • 1999: I grandi successi (compilation)
  • 2000: I grandi successi originali - Flashback (Compilation)
  • 2007: Inspired
  • 2009: The very best of Mike Francis (All was missing) (Compilation)
  • 2011: Anthology

Web links

Individual evidence

personal data
SURNAME Francis, Mike
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Puccioni, Francesco (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Italian singer and composer
DATE OF BIRTH April 26, 1961
PLACE OF BIRTH Florence , Italy
DATE OF DEATH January 30, 2009
Place of death Rome