Cleve Francis

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cleve Francis
Birth nameCleveland Francis, Jr.
Country
  • Folk
  • Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter, cardiologist
    Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
    Years active1970–present
    LabelsPlayback,
    Liberty, Forager
    Websitehttp://www.clevefrancis.com

    Cleveland Francis (born April 22, 1945) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and cardiologist. Active since the late 1960s, Francis has recorded a total of nine albums, including three for Liberty Records. He has charted four times on Billboard Hot Country Songs, most successfully with "You Do My Heart Good" in 1992.

    Biography

    Francis began his music career as a folk and blues singer and songwriter in the late 1960s while still a graduate student at the

    cardiologist. However, in the late 1980s he switched his focus to country music, signing first to Playback Records. His debut country album Last Call for Love was released that year. The album included a single titled "Love Light", which was also made into a music video.[4]

    After seeing the video for "Love Light" on CMT, record producer Jimmy Bowen signed Francis to Liberty Records in 1992.[4] Between 1992 and 1994, Francis released three studio albums on Liberty, in addition to charting four singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts. In 1994 Francis returned to his medical practice in Northern Virginia. He is president of Mount Vernon Cardiology Associates.[5] Francis has performed at The Birchmere in Alexandria, Virginia, and has a live album recorded there in 2006 called Storytime.[6] In 2022, Francis released "Beyond the Willow Tree" on Forager Records, a remastered reissue of his 1970 self-released folk album, "Follow Me," which includes several other folk songs Francis had recorded as demos in 1968 and 1970.[7]

    Discography

    Albums

    Title Album details Peak chart
    positions
    US Country
    US Heat
    Follow Me
    • Release date: 1970
    • Label: Self-released
    Last Call for Love
    • Release date: 1990
    • Label: Playback
    Tourist in Paradise
    • Release date: March 16, 1992
    • Label: Liberty
    58 34
    Walkin'
    • Release date: May 10, 1993
    • Label: Liberty
    You've Got Me Now
    • Release date: August 23, 1994
    • Label: Liberty
    Meet Cleve Francis
    • Release date: 2000
    • Label: K-Tel
    Storytime
    • Release date: 2006
    • Label: Self-released
    Lovelight
    • Release date: 2021
    • Label: K-Tel
    Beyond the Willow Tree
    • Release date: 2022
    • Label: Forager Records
    "—" denotes releases that did not chart

    Singles

    Year Single Peak chart
    positions
    Album
    US Country
    [1]
    CAN Country
    1990 "Love Light" Last Call for Love
    1992 "Love Light" (re-release) 52 Tourist in Paradise
    "You Do My Heart Good" 47 76
    "How Can I Hold You" 74
    1993 "Walkin'" 63 Walkin'
    "I Won't Let You Walk Away"
    1994 "Love or the Lack Thereof" You've Got Me Now
    "We Fell in Love Anyway" (with Patti Austin)
    "—" denotes releases that did not chart

    Music videos

    Year Video Director
    1990 "Love Light" D.J. Schweitzer[8]
    1992 "You Do My Heart Good" Bill Young
    1993 "Walkin'" Sara Nichols
    "I Won't Let You Walk Away" Joanne Gardner
    1994 "Love or the Lack Thereof"[9] L. J. Kreussling
    "We Fell in Love Anyway" (with Patti Austin)[10] Dominic Orlando


    References

    1. ^ .
    2. Allmusic
      . Retrieved May 31, 2008.
    3. ^ Eshleman, Tina (January 2023). "Heart & Soul" (PDF). William & Mary Alumni Magazine. Williamsburg, Virginia: College of William & Mary. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
    4. ^ a b "Cleve Francis is a country (music) doctor". The Des Moines Register. April 17, 1992. pp. 16T. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
    5. ^ "Thumbnail Biography of Cleve Francis". Retrieved December 19, 2019.
    6. ^ "Storytime". iTunes Store. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
    7. ^ "Beyond The Willow Tree, by Cleveland Francis". Cleveland Francis. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
    8. ^ "Music Row prints local video honors". The Tennessean. December 11, 1990. pp. 1D. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
    9. Country Music Television
      . Retrieved October 14, 2011.
    10. Country Music Television
      . Retrieved October 14, 2011.