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==Biography==
==Biography==
Born in [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] in 1948, Francis served an apprentice as a printer before relocating to [[Miami]] at the age of 16.<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0242-9}}, p. 102-3</ref> 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.<ref name="Larkin" /> 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 (musician)|Pat Kelly]]) In the late 1960s he recorded as a solo artist for [[Clement "Coxsone" Dodd]]'s [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] label, with his debut album ''Mr. Fix-It'' released in 1969.<ref name="Prato">Prato, Greg "[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/winston-francis-p291349/biography Winston Francis Biography]", [[Allmusic]], retrieved 2010-12-26</ref> 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.<ref name="LKJ">"[http://www.lintonkwesijohnson.com/lkj-records-artists/winston-francis/ Winston Francis]", LKJ Records, retrieved 2010-12-26</ref> The single's B-side, "Too Experienced", featured backing vocals from [[Bob Marley]] and [[Bunny Wailer]].<ref name="Larkin" /> He relocated to the UK that year. He toured the UK club circuit and recorded for [[EMI]] in the 1970s.<ref name="Larkin" />
Born in [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] in 1948, Francis served an apprentice as a printer before relocating to [[Miami]] at the age of 16.<ref name="Larkin">Larkin, Colin (1998) ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, {{ISBN|0-7535-0242-9}}, p. 102-3</ref> 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.<ref name="Larkin" /> 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 (musician)|Pat Kelly]]) In the late 1960s he recorded as a solo artist for [[Clement "Coxsone" Dodd]]'s [[Studio One (record label)|Studio One]] label, with his debut album ''Mr. Fix-It'' released in 1969.<ref name="Prato">Prato, Greg "[http://www.allmusic.com/artist/winston-francis-p291349/biography Winston Francis Biography]", [[Allmusic]], retrieved 2010-12-26</ref> 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.<ref name="LKJ">"[http://www.lintonkwesijohnson.com/lkj-records-artists/winston-francis/ Winston Francis]", LKJ Records, retrieved 2010-12-26</ref> The single's B-side, "Too Experienced", featured backing vocals from [[Bob Marley]] and [[Bunny Wailer]].<ref name="Larkin" /> He relocated to the UK that year. He toured the UK club circuit and recorded for [[EMI]] in the 1970s.<ref name="Larkin" />

In 1972, Francis recorded "Blue Moon". The song peaked at number 34 in Australia in February 1973.<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=117}}</ref>


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.<ref name="Larkin" /> 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''.<ref name="Prato" /> His version of [[Ben E King]]'s "[[Stand by Me (Ben E. King song)|Stand by Me]]" was a hit in France, selling over 90,000 copies, leading to work with [[Sly & Robbie]] and [[John Kpiaye]].<ref name="Larkin" /> 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''.<ref name="Leggett">Leggett, Steve "[http://www.allmusic.com/album/feel-good-all-over-r731163/review ''Feel Good All Over'' Review]", [[Allmusic]], retrieved 2010-12-26</ref>
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.<ref name="Larkin" /> 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''.<ref name="Prato" /> His version of [[Ben E King]]'s "[[Stand by Me (Ben E. King song)|Stand by Me]]" was a hit in France, selling over 90,000 copies, leading to work with [[Sly & Robbie]] and [[John Kpiaye]].<ref name="Larkin" /> 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''.<ref name="Leggett">Leggett, Steve "[http://www.allmusic.com/album/feel-good-all-over-r731163/review ''Feel Good All Over'' Review]", [[Allmusic]], retrieved 2010-12-26</ref>

Revision as of 12:31, 19 September 2020

Winston Francis
Also known asKing Cool
Born1948 (age 75–76)
OriginKingston, Jamaica
GenresRocksteady, Reggae
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1965–present
Websitehttp://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

  1. ^ a b c d e f Larkin, Colin (1998) The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae, Virgin Books, ISBN 0-7535-0242-9, p. 102-3
  2. ^ a b Prato, Greg "Winston Francis Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-12-26
  3. ^ "Winston Francis", LKJ Records, retrieved 2010-12-26
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Leggett, Steve "Feel Good All Over Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2010-12-26
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