Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Gar-Francis-Sept-25-Incubator-Art-Center-West-Orange-NJ.html?soid=1103157499974&aid=wjrcXCnOTI0
GAR FRANCIS
Jersey Boy at the Top of His Musical Game
Jersey Boy at the Top of His Musical Game
Singer-songwriter Gar Francis to perform at NJAI
By Carol Selman Email the author 9:11am
Veteran singer-songwriter Gar Francis is doing exactly what he wants: He's leading his own electric and acoustic bands, plus a blues band — Plainfield Slim and the Groundhawgs, releasing albums on his own Bongo Boy records and performing Americana music as a solo act. In addition, both Francis' award winning lyrics and sideman guitar duties have helped propel the legendary 60's garage rock band, the Doughboys, to their current national fame.
This Saturday, 8 p.m., at the New Jersey Arts Incubator, Essex Green, West Orange, Francis is bringing in a band that covers all his bases.
"It'll be an acoustic band, me on rhythm guitar and vocals, another guitarist to sweeten it, bass, and percussion," Francis said. "I don't want to pigeonhole it — we'll cover a spectrum of American music — some rock, some blues, a little country, some folk."
You can't pigeonhole Francis, either. After 40 years in music, the lanky, Plainfield-born and reared Francis is enjoying it all. "I don't even think about it, the music and lyrics just seem to be pouring out," Francis said.
Born Gary Thomas Venittelli, the first music that grabbed Francis was Sinatra's. "I came from a big, New Jersey Italian-American family and as a kid in the late '50s, early '60s, my dad would play William B. William's "Sundays with Sinatra" on the car radio while we drove to the relatives. My stage name is a tribute to Francis Albert Sinatra and to my Dad," Gar said.
Why Sinatra? "He was the master of telling a story with the lyrics," Francis said. "For me, music is like a beautiful woman — the melody of song, a woman's looks are what initially attract you, but it's the words she says or the lyrics of a song which grab you by the heart."
Francis' first gig was playing with his rock band at his Catholic school during high school. During the 1970s, he and the Rockids were a fixture at Max's Kansas City and CBGB's. By the '80s, he was writing songs and also playing the Keith Richards' parts in the Rolling Stones Tribute Band, Sticky Fingers.
Tired of touring, for a time Francis's songwriting supplanted the performing. He resumed performing, but continued to write hits for an array of performers, including blues diva Jeanne Dozier, for whom he wrote and produced the acclaimed album, "Queen of Dreams."
Now, Francis is concentrating on own performances and his work with the Doughboys. His first solo folk album, "Love and Protest," recently was released
"I think everything is working, because I'm at a point at where I really understand the roots of my music," Francis said. "I tell all the 'newbies' coming up, go back and listen to the blues, to the folk legends, to early rock, some jazz."
Francis has netted awards from the Unisong Music Writing Awards and by the John Lennon and Billboard song writing contests.
"I'm also at a point when I know exactly who I am — a Jersey Boy. I love it here; we have it all," Francis said. "New York City, the mountains, the shore."
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Gar-Francis-Sept-25-Incubator-Art-Center-West-Orange-NJ.html?soid=1103157499974&aid=wjrcXCnOTI0
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Gar Francis Live at The Art Center
Nazareth Center of the Arts a non-profit organization located at 30 Belvidere street in beautiful historic Nazareth, PA, will host live music by songwriter Gar Francis also known as blues musician Plainfield Slim. Gar Francis has been performing and entertaining audiences for years. He plays with the 60s legendary band the Doughboys, and has performed with his Juke Joint Blues band Plainfield Slim & The Groundhawgs at the Warren County Farmers Fair in August. His Americana music repertoire includes songs like ROCKET which is a tribute to our troops serving our country past and present and they also include other well written songs with great lyrics and beautiful guitar solos.
As a singer/songwriter, Gar has received awards for songwriting from The John Lennon Song Contest, the Unisong Music Awards, and an Honorable Mention in the Billboard Song Contest. Most recently he has received “The People Choice Award” as the writer of the “Coolest Songs In The World” on Little Steve Van Zandt Underground Garage Radio Show on Sirius Radio for 2008 & 2009. If you like artists such as Tom Waits, Bob Dylan or Tom Petty you will love Gar Francis.
Members in The Gar Francis band are Lee Fink- Guitar, Rocco Scavone-Rhyme, Mike Caruso- Bass and Gar Francis-vocal and guitar. Come and join the Gar Francis band as they will be at the Nazareth Center Of The Arts on September 18, 2010 at 7:30pm – 9:30pm located at 30 Belvidere Street Nazareth PA 18064
(picture by Laura Domin at the Warren County Farmers Fair, August 2010)
For more information please contact MoPromo1@aol.com or MoPromo Mgmt Co at 908-455-1576 Artist web site: http://www.garfrancis.com/
Monday, September 6, 2010
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