Myspace Layouts - Myspace Editor - Hot Comments - Image Hosting
FRANCOIS' DEBUT ALBUM IS NOW AVAILABLE-CLICK ON THE CD BABY LINK (LEFT) - "The Love Led Acoustic Sessions" consists of intimate and soulful acoustic jam sessions performed by Francois and featured talented guitarist Heather Crawford. The album features a band consisting of not only voice, guitar and piano, but also VIOLIN, CELLO, VIBRAPHONE, HARMONICA, ACOUSTIC BASS, SAXOPHONE percussion and back up vocals.
"Francois’ performances are a celebration of music, humanity and life. His emotive and honest vocal delivery has the power to uplift and inspire an audience." Born in South West Africa and raised in the rich vibrant culture of South Africa, Francois draws upon his roots to write songs with the intention of bringing hope and inspiring those around him. His music does exactly that and comes across as a beautiful musical narration of his thoughts, emotions and his experiences in life and those he shares it with.
Francois’ personal musical style is an exciting and refreshing modern collaboration between Adult Contemporary (AC), Jam Band and Jazz with Soul and R&B vocal elements. As a very capable musician he combines these musical elements to give birth to a style rooted in his love for music, life and people.
He is currently finishing his final two courses in Humber College and Thompson Rivers University’s collaborative Bachelors Degree in Music as a Vocal Performance Major. Francois recently undertook his second European visit during which he performed at various venues and jazz festivals across the United Kingdom.
Francois also recently worked on an international jazz/pop project with Universal Music Group/Decca Records UK (Jamie Cullum, George Benson etc.).
Francois has performed with highly acclaimed artists including jazz virtuoso Mike Stern, Universal Music’s pop sensation RyanDan, Hip-Hop artists Genuwine and Belly at Canada’s Much Music Video Awards (MMVA), the accomplished and talented drummer Larnell Lewis (July Black, Mat Dusk, Fred Hammond), brilliant bassist Lauren Falls and the gifted producer, music director and keyboardist Kibwe Thomas (Mariah Carey, Brian Mello, HeavenSound).
Francois has received the Oscar Peterson Prize, Standard Bank Award for Best Original Composition, Standard Bank Most Promising Performing Solo Artist Award and the Moe Koffman Universal Music award. As an avid songwriter and composer he was selected as one of the prize winning top three candidates in the R&B Category of the 2008 John Lennon International Songwriting Competition. During the summer of 2008, Francois sang backup vocals on the 6th season of Canadian Idol where he had the privilege to work with Debra Byrd, vocal coach and arranger for American Idol and Canadian Idol, Orin Isaacs, music director of Canadian Idol and pianist Mark Lalama. The list of accomplished teachers, music directors and conductors that Francois has studied and worked with also includes Trish Colter, Shannon Gunn, Rick Lazar, Rudolf de Beer and Prof. Awie van Wyk. He also had the privilege of rehearsing in an ensemble setting with Kurt Elling as a guest teacher and mentor.