Don Francisco (Christian musician)
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Don Francisco (born February 28, 1946) is an independent American singer, songwriter, and musician, specializing in the field of contemporary Christian music.
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[edit] Background
He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of a Christian seminary professor. Francisco's early career centered on the secular folk-rock music common during the mid 1960s, but after an experience Francisco believed was supernatural, he rededicated his life to God and changed his personal, musical direction. Francisco is married and lives in Colorado with his wife, Wendy, also a recording artist as well as a graphic artist.
In 1997 Don Francisco recorded "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" 1977 album Forgiven and then re-recorded in 1997. According to the members website: "We get more letters about the healing impact this of song than any other except He's Alive." It is one of the most uncomprimising songs he has ever written and it is considered by many to be one of his best songs.
According to Daniel Melius (Rocky Mountain Ministries Staff), Benson re-released the original album "Forgiven" along with "Got To Tell Somebody" and put them both on one CD in 1988. They left that song off in order to fit both albums on to one 70 minute CD. However, they did release the Forgiven album in the early 90's with that song on it along with all others on their "Right Price" line of CD's. This may be the source of the rumor that "the recording company he was with at that time was worried by the content of the song (that it might offend people because it was "too radical") so they deleted it."
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. 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 disk is a collaboration between Don and Wendy Francisco and is available under the Airlift Recordings label.
[edit] Musical style
Even among Christian musicians, Francisco's style is fairly distinctive. He tends to focus on acoustic instruments barren of modern production techniques and concentrate on the narratives of the songs, using ballad styles or speaking through the music that interprets Scriptural events or Biblical lessons, 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 even a lesson against religious self-righteousness and pharisaic condemnation ("Beautiful To Me"). As is the case with many singer/songerwriters 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 JudeoChristian scriptures.
Some of Don Fransisco's songs deal with what his site calls Churchianity where the habit of church life replaces actual Christianity. Such songs include: "Stand Up" ("Only Love is Spoken Here", 2004), "Steeple Song", "Everybody Else But Me" & "Beautiful to Me" ("Beautiful to Me", 1998), "The Rule of the Spirit" & "Call Nobody Teacher Here, my child" ("Grace on Grace", 1999) and "Pushin On" which is currently unreleased and available only from his websites members only download section.
[edit] Views on copyright
Don Francisco retains full copyright on all his work but provides chord charts and lyrics for most of his songs. In addition to this, many of his albums have been recorded sans-lyrics so that an enthusiastic fan might sing them for themselves.
In addition to this rather liberal approach to the base material, his site actively encouraged its download members to create CD's for friends that might appreciate (the site actually says "...might be blessed...") a custom Don Francisco and Friends CD, with the limits against sale and so forth and the simple requirement that the website URL be written on each CD.
Towards the end of 2006 the members area was opened to the public with the same access that had previously been reserved for members now available to anyone. While fans are now asked to donate should they wish, it is now entirely optional and separate from access to the base material.
[edit] Discography
- Out of print CDs are still available on CDr direct from the artist.
- Brother of the Son (1976, out of print)
- Forgiven (1977, out of print)
- Got to Tell Somebody (1979, out of print)
- The Traveler (1981, out of print)
- The Live Concert (1982, out of print)
- Holiness (1984, out of print)
- One Heart at a Time (1985, out of print)
- The Poet (1985, out of print?)
- Power (1987, out of print)
- High Praise (1988, out of print)
- Live in the UK (1989, out of print)
- Early Works (1991, out of print?)
- Vision of the Valley (1991, out of print)
- Come Away (1992, out of print)
- He's Alive (1997)
- Genesis and Job (out of print)
- Beautiful to Me (1998)
- Grace on Grace (1999)
- Only Love is Spoken Here (2001)
- The Package
- The Promises (2003, Spoken Word)
- That I May Know You (2005)
[edit] Collections
- He's Alive, Collection Vol. I 1996
- He's Alive, Collection Vol. II 1998
- He's Alive, Collection Vol. III 2004
