John Francis (songwriter)

John Francis is an American singer-songwriter born in New York City in 1977 and raised in rural south-eastern Pennsylvania. The son of an Episcopal minister, Francis was raised on folk music, hymns, and Gospel songs in the tradition of his family and church congregation. Francis began writing songs and publicly performing at age 11. He studied English literature and world religions at Messiah College, in Grantham, PA, and graduated in 2001. His style is rooted in the traditions of American folk, country, gospel, and rhythm & blues. Influenced by Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt, and Bruce Springsteen, among others...Francis has been described as a 'storyteller and a conduit' with 'artful, brooding'...'atmospheric portraits of a troubling world'. Francis was the 2006 recipient of the ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) Sammy Cahn Lyricist Award, for his song "Love Came to Me Dressed In Red". Previous recipients include John Mayer, Josh Ritter, and Lori McKenna. Increasingly known for his topical songs addressing societal ills with stories and indictments, Francis was invited to perform at the 2006 Summit at the United Nations in New York called The '10 Year Anniversary of the International Declaration Toward the Eradication of Extreme Poverty.' Francis performed at the 2005 Philadelphia Folk Festival, the 2005 WXPN All About the Music Festival, the Appel Farm Festival, and the 2006 South By SouthWest Festival. Sharing the bill with artists such as Suzanne Vega, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Rickie Lee Jones, Ray Lamontagne, Rufus Wainwright, Mavis Staples, Aimee Mann, and Jeff Tweedy. In 2004, Francis self-released 'the Philadelphia EP', produced by Phil Nicolo (Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Billy Joel), and in 2005 he self-released 'Strong Wine & Spirits' produced by Devin Greenwood (Amos Lee, Birdie Busch).

* [http://www.calvin.edu/innercompass/media/ic709.mp4 Inner Compass] - "Activism Through Music" TV Interview (hosted by Karen Saupe)
* [http://www.calvin.edu/innercompass/media/ic709.mp3 Inner Compass] - "Activism Through Music" audio mp3