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{{short description|American Christian singer and songwriter}}
'''Don Francisco''' (born ], ]) is an independent American singer, songwriter, and musician, specializing in the field of ].
{{Distinguish|Don Francisco (television host)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2020}}


'''Don Francisco''' (born February 28, 1946) is an independent American singer, ], and musician, specializing in the field of ]. He has won two ], 1980 song of the year (for "He's Alive"), and 1980 Songwriter of the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doveawards.com/history.php?x=artist |title=42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards on gmc |publisher=Doveawards.com |accessdate=January 9, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323103415/http://www.doveawards.com/history.php?x=artist |archivedate=March 23, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref>
⚫ ==Background==
He was born in ], the son of a Christian ] ]. Francisco's early career centered on the ] ] music common during the mid 1960s, but after an experience Francisco believed was ], 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.


⚫ ==Background==
In 1977 Don Francisco recorded "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" for the album ''Forgiven''. 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.
Don Francisco was born in ], the son of a Christian ] ] ]. Francisco pursued a career in secular music before rededicating his life to God after an experience he believed was ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/don-francisco-mn0000149170/biography|title=Don Francisco - Biography & History - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|accessdate=November 27, 2017}}</ref> Francisco has a son Uri (born 1974) with his first wife Karen,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/music/Don_Francisco_The_American_songsmith_creating_Biblical_storiesinsong/36554/p2/ | title=Page 2 of Don Francisco: The American songsmith creating Biblical stories-in-song - Don Francisco }}</ref> from whom he divorced in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/don-francisco/features/don-francisco-a-one-trick-pony/ |title=Don Francisco &#124; Don Francisco: A One-Trick Pony &#124; TodaysChristianMusic.com |website=www.todayschristianmusic.com |access-date=12 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105032251/http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/don-francisco/features/don-francisco-a-one-trick-pony/ |archive-date=5 November 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Francisco is currently married to his second wife Wendy, who is also a recording artist as well as a graphic artist, and lives in Colorado.


==Music career==
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."
In 1977 Don Francisco recorded "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" for the album ''Forgiven''. It is one of the most uncompromising songs he has ever written and it is considered by many to be one of his best songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/don-francisco/features/don-francisco-a-one-trick-pony/ |title=Don Francisco &#124; Don Francisco: A One-Trick Pony &#124; TodaysChristianMusic.com |accessdate=2016-11-04 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105032251/http://www.todayschristianmusic.com/artists/don-francisco/features/don-francisco-a-one-trick-pony/ |archivedate=November 5, 2016 |df=mdy-all }} Called "one of the best folk gospel ballads of all time" by Cashbox Magazine.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/artists/francisco_don.aspx?mobile=false&u=1|title=Don Francisco|publisher=|accessdate=November 6, 2016}}</ref> ] re-released the original album ''Forgiven'' along with ''Got to Tell Somebody'', and put them both on one CD in 1988. That re-release left the song "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" off in order to fit both albums on one 70-minute CD.<ref>Original double CD pressing, dated 1988</ref> However, they did release the ''Forgiven'' album in the early 1990s with that song on it, along with all others, on their "Right Price" line of CDs.


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. Eventually after 1994, Don Francisco 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 '']'', 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 ] label. In 2003 Francisco released ''The Promises'', which consists almost entirely of selected and paraphrased readings from the Bible. The disc is a collaboration between Don and his wife Wendy.


==Musical style== ==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 ] 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 ] scriptures. Francisco's style is fairly distinctive, focusing on acoustic instruments barren of modern production techniques and concentrates on the narratives of the songs, using ballad styles or speaking through the music that interprets Scriptural events or Biblical lessons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=13901|title=He's Alive by Don Francisco Songfacts|website=www.songfacts.com|accessdate=November 27, 2017}}</ref> This is specifically with respect to the teachings of ] and his messages of "unconditional love" ("I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping"), salvation ("Give Your Heart a Home"), and a lesson against religious self-righteousness and pharisaic condemnation ("Beautiful To Me"). As is the case with many singer-songwriters 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 ] scriptures.


Some of Don Fransisco's songs deal with what his site calls ] 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 download section. Some of Don Francisco's songs deal with what his site calls ] where the habit of church life replaces actual Christianity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://reimaginingchurch.org/endorsements/|title=Endorsements - Reimagining Church|date=October 14, 2015|publisher=|accessdate=November 27, 2017}}</ref>


==Views on copyright== ==Barred from the UK==
In March 2009, Don Francisco was scheduled to perform in an Easter music program called "Why Good Friday?" in the English port town of ] in Dorset, but was barred from entering the United Kingdom after listing his occupation as "gospel singer" and failing to obtain a religious worker visa and a certificate of sponsorship, a new requirement that the organizers of the concert were unaware of. That year the United Kingdom phased in an immigration system that increased scrutiny for religious workers traveling to the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://saf.eauk.org/media/immigration.cfm |title=Immigration rules throw churches into confusion |publisher=Eauk.org |accessdate=April 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140421064200/http://saf.eauk.org/media/immigration.cfm |archivedate=April 21, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2009/june/1.13.html |title=Customs Confusion |publisher=Christianity Today |date= May 14, 2009|accessdate=April 20, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/4191394.you-cant-come-in/ |title = You can't come in! {{!}} Bournemouth Echo| date=March 10, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/news/Don_Deported/35291/p1/ |title = Don Deported: Don Francisco stopped at UK airport}}</ref>
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.


==Discography==
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.
===Studio albums===
⚫ * 1976 ''Brother of the Son''
* 1977 ''Forgiven''
⚫ * 1979 ''Got to Tell Somebody''
⚫ * 1981 ''The Traveler''
* 1984 ''Holiness''
⚫ * 1985 ''One Heart at a Time''
* 1987 ''The Power''
* 1988 ''High Praise''
⚫ * 1991 ''Vision of the Valley''
* 1992 ''Come Away''
⚫ * 1994 ''Genesis and Job''
⚫ * 1999 ''Grace on Grace''
⚫ * 2001 ''Only Love is Spoken Here''
⚫ * 2003 ''The Promises'' (Spoken Word)
⚫ * 2005 ''That I May Know You''
* 2007 ''The Sower''
* 2009 ''Let It Ride''
* 2012 ''Carols on Guitar''
* 2014 ''Forever My Friend''


===Live albums===
Towards the end of ] 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.
⚫ * 1982 ''The Live Concert''
⚫ * 1989 ''Live in the UK''
* 2017 ''Acoustic Live Concert'' (two-CD)


==Discography == ===Compilations===
* 1985 ''The Poet''
:''Out of print CDs are still available on CDr direct from the artist.''
* 1991 ''The Early Works''
⚫ * ''Brother of the Son'' (1976, out of print)
* 1996 ''Word Pictures''
* ''Forgiven'' (1977, out of print)
* 1999 ''Balladeer Tales''
⚫ * ''Got to Tell Somebody'' (1979, out of print)
⚫ * 1996 ''He's Alive, Collection Vol. I''
⚫ * ''The Traveler'' (1981, out of print)
⚫ * 1998 ''Beautiful To Me, Collection Vol. II''
⚫ * ''The Live Concert'' (1982, out of print)
⚫ * 2004 ''The Package, Collection Vol. III''
* ''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
⚫ * '']'' (2003, Spoken Word)
⚫ * ''That I May Know You'' (2005)


===Collections=== ==References==
{{Reflist}}
⚫ *''He's Alive, Collection Vol. I'' 1996
⚫ *''He's Alive, Collection Vol. II'' 1998
⚫ *''He's Alive, Collection Vol. III'' 2004


==External links== ==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.donfrancisco.com/}} - contains albums, MP3s, a member area with lyrics and guitar chords, and ministry updates
*
* {{Discogs artist|Don Francisco (2)|Don Francisco}}
* (alt)
*


{{Authority control}}
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
⚫ ]


] {{DEFAULTSORT:Francisco, Don}}
⚫ ]
⚫ ]
]
⚫ ]
]
]

Latest revision as of 11:21, 25 March 2024

American Christian singer and songwriter Not to be confused with Don Francisco (television host).

Don Francisco (born February 28, 1946) is an independent American singer, songwriter, and musician, specializing in the field of contemporary Christian music. He has won two Dove awards, 1980 song of the year (for "He's Alive"), and 1980 Songwriter of the year.

Background

Don Francisco was born in Louisville, Kentucky, the son of a Christian seminary professor Clyde T. Francisco. Francisco pursued a career in secular music before rededicating his life to God after an experience he believed was supernatural. Francisco has a son Uri (born 1974) with his first wife Karen, from whom he divorced in 1994. Francisco is currently married to his second wife Wendy, who is also a recording artist as well as a graphic artist, and lives in Colorado.

Music career

In 1977 Don Francisco recorded "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" for the album Forgiven. It is one of the most uncompromising songs he has ever written and it is considered by many to be one of his best songs. Benson Records re-released the original album Forgiven along with Got to Tell Somebody, and put them both on one CD in 1988. That re-release left the song "I Don't Care Where You've Been Sleeping" off in order to fit both albums on one 70-minute CD. However, they did release the Forgiven album in the early 1990s with that song on it, along with all others, on their "Right Price" line of CDs.

Eventually after 1994, Don Francisco 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 disc is a collaboration between Don and his wife Wendy.

Musical style

Francisco's style is fairly distinctive, focusing on acoustic instruments barren of modern production techniques and concentrates on the narratives of the songs, using ballad styles or speaking through the music that interprets Scriptural events or Biblical lessons. This is 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 a lesson against religious self-righteousness and pharisaic condemnation ("Beautiful To Me"). As is the case with many singer-songwriters 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 Judeo-Christian scriptures.

Some of Don Francisco's songs deal with what his site calls Churchianity where the habit of church life replaces actual Christianity.

Barred from the UK

In March 2009, Don Francisco was scheduled to perform in an Easter music program called "Why Good Friday?" in the English port town of Poole in Dorset, but was barred from entering the United Kingdom after listing his occupation as "gospel singer" and failing to obtain a religious worker visa and a certificate of sponsorship, a new requirement that the organizers of the concert were unaware of. That year the United Kingdom phased in an immigration system that increased scrutiny for religious workers traveling to the country.

Discography

Studio albums

  • 1976 Brother of the Son
  • 1977 Forgiven
  • 1979 Got to Tell Somebody
  • 1981 The Traveler
  • 1984 Holiness
  • 1985 One Heart at a Time
  • 1987 The Power
  • 1988 High Praise
  • 1991 Vision of the Valley
  • 1992 Come Away
  • 1994 Genesis and Job
  • 1999 Grace on Grace
  • 2001 Only Love is Spoken Here
  • 2003 The Promises (Spoken Word)
  • 2005 That I May Know You
  • 2007 The Sower
  • 2009 Let It Ride
  • 2012 Carols on Guitar
  • 2014 Forever My Friend

Live albums

  • 1982 The Live Concert
  • 1989 Live in the UK
  • 2017 Acoustic Live Concert (two-CD)

Compilations

  • 1985 The Poet
  • 1991 The Early Works
  • 1996 Word Pictures
  • 1999 Balladeer Tales
  • 1996 He's Alive, Collection Vol. I
  • 1998 Beautiful To Me, Collection Vol. II
  • 2004 The Package, Collection Vol. III

References

  1. "42nd Annual GMA Dove Awards on gmc". Doveawards.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2011. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  2. "Don Francisco - Biography & History - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  3. "Page 2 of Don Francisco: The American songsmith creating Biblical stories-in-song - Don Francisco".
  4. "Don Francisco | Don Francisco: A One-Trick Pony | TodaysChristianMusic.com". www.todayschristianmusic.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  5. "Don Francisco | Don Francisco: A One-Trick Pony | TodaysChristianMusic.com". Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2016. Called "one of the best folk gospel ballads of all time" by Cashbox Magazine.
  6. "Don Francisco". Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  7. Original double CD pressing, dated 1988
  8. "He's Alive by Don Francisco Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  9. "Endorsements - Reimagining Church". October 14, 2015. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  10. "Immigration rules throw churches into confusion". Eauk.org. Archived from the original on April 21, 2014. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  11. "Customs Confusion". Christianity Today. May 14, 2009. Retrieved April 20, 2014.
  12. "You can't come in! | Bournemouth Echo". March 10, 2009.
  13. "Don Deported: Don Francisco stopped at UK airport".

External links

Categories: