Francis Monkman

Infobox musical artist

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Name = Francis Monkman
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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Francis Monkman
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Born = birth date and age|1949|6|9
Died =
Origin = Hampstead, North London
Instrument = Keyboards, guitar
Voice_type =
Genre = Progressive rock, classical music
Occupation = Songwriter, musician, film score composer
Years_active = 1960s - present
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Associated_acts = Curved Air, Sky
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Francis Monkman (born 9 June 1949, in Hampstead, North London, England) is an English rock, classical and film score composer, and a founder member of the progressive rock band Curved Air.

Career

He was a student at Westminster School where he studied organ and harpsichord, later studying at the Royal College of Music, winning the Raymond Rusel prize for virtuosity on the harpsichord and becoming a member of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

In the late 1960s he founded the rock band Sisyphus, which evolved into Curved Air. He played on their first three albums, leaving after the release of "Phantasmagoria" (1972) and returning briefly for the tour which resulted in the release of the album "Live" (1975).

He contributed to the Renaissance album "Prologue" (1972), worked with Al Stewart including contributing to the album "Past, Present and Future" (1973) and toured with The Shadows (1977). Also in 1977 he collaborated with Brian Eno in the project 801.

In 1978, together with guitarist and composer John Williams he worked to form the rock band called Sky with whom he stayed until 1980.

In the 1980s he resumed classical performances and recordings. His later work includes the soundtrack to the British film, "The Long Good Friday", and the memorable "The Achievement Of Man", which was used as the theme to the BBC children's programme "Think Again".

External links

* [http://www.afkm.com/ Francis Monkman's website]
* [http://www.progressor.net/interview/francis_monkman.html 2006 Interview]
* [http://www.curvedair.com/Directions.htm Francis Monkman on the Curved Air website]
* [http://plum.cream.org/sky/band.htm Biographical information on the Sky website]