MyPianoTalk - Member Profile

Howard Francis

Howard Francis in MASTERCLASS - this exclusive class is the only opportunity this year to spend an in depth two hours with Howard Francis. Saturday 1st October 10am til 12pm in East London. Hurry places are limited to only SIX people! email us for more de... more

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Pianist Galí (Admin): Happy Birthday Howard!!
- March 13
James Colah is now friends with Howard Francis.
- January 1
Pianist Galí (Admin): Happy Birthday Howard!!
- March 13, 2012
Ben Chan is now friends with Howard Francis.
- October 14, 2011
Howard Francis → Howard Francis - Keyboard Masterclass in London: For more details go to http://www.howardfrancis.co.uk/#!__masterclass or drop me an email at howard@howardfrancis.co.uk
- September 20, 2011
Howard Francis created a new event:

Howard Francis - Keyboard Masterclass in London

Dont miss your chance to learn from one of the best keyboard players in the industry! Howard Francis is well-known for his dexterity and nimble-fingered skills from playing with stars including Terence Trent D'Arby, Bryan Ferry and Alesha Dixon. His uniqu...
- September 20, 2011
Howard Francis Howard Francis in MASTERCLASS - this exclusive class is the only opportunity this year to spend an in depth two hours with Howard Francis. Saturday 1st October 10am til 12pm in East London. Hurry places are limited to only SIX people! email us for more de... more
- September 20, 2011
Howard Francis

5:20

Howard Francis Keyboard Masterclass Jan 2011.wmv
Highlights of Howard Francis Keyboard Masterclass on 22nd January! A fun packed two hours with Howard Francis who has toured with Mica Paris, Blue, Will Young, Five, Westlife...to name but a few! Howard shared his experience and knowledge with a group of ...
- September 20, 2011
- Ben Chan digs it.
Howard Francis has added a new profile photo.
- September 20, 2011
Howard Francis has just signed up. Say hello!
- September 20, 2011
- Pianist Galí (Admin) Hello Howard! Welcome to MyPianoTalk!
  
  September 20, 2011
- Pianist Galí (Admin) Thank you for joining!!! Great to have you here!
  
  September 20, 2011
- Howard Francis thanks very much!
  
  September 20, 2011

Personal Information

First Name Howard
Last Name Francis
Gender Male
Relationship Status In a Relationship
Instruments Played Fender Rhodes, Analog Synthesizer, Organ, Keyboard, Acoustic Piano
Music Genre played Smooth Jazz, Rock, Ballads, Samba, Reggae, Folk, Bossa Nova, World Music, Latin, Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, Easy Listening, New Age, Classic, Jazz, Other
Hometown London [map]

Contact Information

City London
Country United Kingdom
Zip Code 00000
E-mail Address howard@howardfrancis.co.uk
Website http://www.howardfrancis.co.uk

Personal Details

Biography From his early days in East London, England where he played piano for the local church choir Howard Francis drew inspiration from the enduring musical traditions of the Pentecostal church including Blues, Soul, R&B, Jazz and Gospel.
Alongside his dexterity, Francis simmering skill and determination would lead to his first forays in the field of session music when he became affiliated, at their inception, with the highly-regarded London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC) for whom he has penned hits, hymns and harmonies for over two decades. Synthesising his influences of Jazz, Pop and R&B Francis has produced popular Christian songs such as Perfect Harmony, I Will Wait and the definitive True Praises which have helped him to garner critical acclaim and expand his audience as the LCGC continue to travel extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the Caribbean often with Francis at the helm of what has proved to be a fruitful and lasting partnership.
His songs, while stylistically expressive have maintained the kind of spiritual gravitas that has led many to indict him of Greatness and label him Legendary, echoing the likes of Andrae Crouch, with whom in a career-defining moment Francis had the distinct pleasure of working with in the early 1980s. He then went on to play a key part in the making of Donnie McClurkins Grammy-nominated Live in London disc while broadening into the pop market to include work with some of the worlds leading and best-selling artists.

Today you are likely to hear Francis with anyone from Terrence Trent DArby to Michael Bolton, Blue, Five, Misteeq, Van Morrison, Mica Paris, Tom Jones, Alesha Dixon, Brian Ferry and Desree, all of whom have sought his talents on stages and in studios as pianist, vocalist or Hammond meister at some stage of their illustrious careers.

More recently Francis has been busy touring the globe with superstar acts including Will Young with whom he performed before the Queen and Irelands biggest pop export Westlife on their 2007 The Love Tour in support of their chart-topping album of the same name.

Today Francis is busy in the preliminary stages of his company 'From The Heart Productions', a labour of love which will allow him to produce, write, and run his own publishing company utilising all of his skills and experience, practical and learned, for both vintage and upcoming acts in the UK and abroad.

Whether vocal arranging, facilitating music workshops or touring the globe Francis continues to challenge norms and break ground with a gift that has seen him sought after for more than two decades in an industry infamous for being fickle and inconsistent. His church-inflected skill, charm and talent continue to make in-roads and unearth new ground in his efforts to remain at the top while keeping both feet firmly rooted to the ground.

Howard Francis

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