Francis Monkman

Francis Monkman

Francis Monkman (born 9 June 1949, in Hampstead, North London, England) is an English rock, classical and film score composer, and a founding member of the progressive rock band Curved Air.

Career

He was a student at Westminster School where he studied organ and harpsichord, later studying at the Royal College of Music, winning the Raymond Rusel prize for virtuosity on the harpsichord and becoming a member of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

In the late 1960s he founded the rock band Sisyphus, which evolved into the pioneering band Curved Air. He played on their first three albums, leaving after the release of Phantasmagoria (1972) and returning briefly for the tour which resulted in the release of the album Live (1975).

He played Minimoog and harpsichord on Elton John's second album (Elton John from 1970); furthermore, he contributed to the Renaissance album Prologue (1972), worked with Al Stewart including contributing to the album Past, Present and Future (1973) and toured with The Shadows (1977). Also in 1977, he played a major role in collaborating with Brian Eno on the project 801.

In the late 1970s he recorded music for television.

In 1977, he toured with The Shadows on their 20 Golden Greats Tour.

In 1978, together with guitarist and composer John Williams he founded the classical/rock music fusion band called Sky with whom he stayed until 1980.

In the 1980s he resumed classical performances and recordings. His later work includes the soundtrack to the British film, The Long Good Friday, and the memorable electronic Achievements Of Man taken from his album Energism, which was later used as a BBC theme.

Instruments (career)

Keyboards

• 1977-1978: ??????????????? (tour with The Shadows)

Piano

See also

• The Shadows
• Curved Air
• Sky

Francis Monkman played guitar as well as keyboards in Curved Air, switching between them when playing live. According to the sleeve notes he also played guitar (referred to as' the old axe' on one of Sky's LP's

External links

• Francis Monkman's website
• 2006 Interview
• Francis Monkman on the Curved Air website
• Biographical information on the Sky website