Winston Francis
Winston Francis | |
---|---|
Also known as | King Cool |
Born | 1948 (age 75–76) |
Origin | Kingston, Jamaica |
Genres | Rocksteady, Reggae |
Instrument | Vocals |
Years active | 1965–present |
Website | http://www.winstonfrancis.com/ |
Winston Francis (born 1948) aka King Cool is a Jamaican singer whose career began in the 1960s.
Biography
Born in Kingston in 1948, Francis served an apprentice as a printer before relocating to Miami at the age of 16.[1] He attended music school, and his teacher Chuck Bird arranged for him to perform with the Jackie Gleason Orchestra in front of Spiro Agnew in 1965.[1] He then joined Carlos Malcolm's Afro Jamaicans band, with whom he toured the USA and the Caribbean. He was also a member of The Sheridans (with Pat Kelly) In the late 1960s he recorded as a solo artist for Clement "Coxsone" Dodd's Studio One label, with his debut album Mr. Fix-It released in 1969.[2] This was followed by a second album, California Dreaming in 1971, with the title track released as a single and chosen as 'Hit Pick of the Week' for two weeks running by Tony Blackburn on his BBC Radio 1 show.[3] The single's B-side, "Too Experienced", featured backing vocals from Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer.[1] He relocated to the UK that year. He toured the UK club circuit and recorded for EMI in the 1970s.[1]
In 1972, Francis recorded "Blue Moon". The song peaked at number 34 in Australia in February 1973.[4]
After a period of inactivity, Francis returned to recording in the early 1980s, releases including the Roy Cousins-produced Just Once and the self-produced Africa. After a break from music when he worked as a youth worker and social worker, he returned in 1987 as a backing vocalist for The Melodians and began working with Trevor Star and the Skaticians.[1] He continued to record in the 1990s, working with Dennis Bovell under the name King Cool, and releasing Ragga Love and Sweet Rock Steady, and guested on Kelly's 1995 album Butterflies.[2] His version of Ben E King's "Stand by Me" was a hit in France, selling over 90,000 copies, leading to work with Sly & Robbie and John Kpiaye.[1] In 2003 he teamed up with fellow veteran AJ Franklin to record the album Stand Firm. In 2004 he released the medley album Feel Good All Over.[5]
Discography
- Mr. Fix-It (1969), Coxsone
- California Dreaming (1971), Bamboo
- Just Once (198?), Tamoki-Wambesi
- Africa (198?), Cam-Per
- Ragga Love (199?), Soul Beat
- Sweet Rock Steady (1997), LKJ
- Feel Good All Over (2004), Jet Star
- Peace, Love & Harmony (2007), Soulove
- Compilations
- Mr. Fix-It/California Dreaming
as King Cool
- His Majesty Requests (1995), BMG France
Francis & Franklin
- Stand Firm (2003), Definite
DVD
- Winston Francis Meets Rude Rich and the High Notes (2008)
References
- ^ a b c d e f Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 102-3
- ^ a b Prato, Greg "Winston Francis Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-12-26
- ^ "Winston Francis", LKJ Records, retrieved 2010-12-26
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 117. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ Leggett, Steve "Feel Good All Over Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-12-26
External links
- Official website
- Winston Francis at Roots Archives