Cleve Francis
Birth nameCleveland Francis, Jr.[1]
Born (1945-04-22) April 22, 1945[2]
OriginJennings, Louisiana, U.S.
Genres
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 College of William & Mary, where he graduated with a Master of Arts degree in 1969.[3] He attended medical school at the Medical College of Virginia (now Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine), eventually becoming a 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. 1 2 Whitburn, Joel (2008). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-89820-177-2.
  2. Loftus, Johnny. "Cleve Francis biography". 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. 1 2 "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. "CMT : Videos : Cleve Francis : Love Or The Lack Thereof". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
  10. "CMT : Videos : Patti Austin : We Fell In Love Anyway". Country Music Television. Retrieved October 14, 2011.
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