Francesca Beghe

Francesca Beghe

Genres: pop, singer-songwriter, underrated, soft rock, female vocal

Similar artists via Last.fm

Eduardo Cruz Deon Estus Piero Duhart Lito Díaz Jean-Michel Byron

About Francesca Beghe

Biography Francesca Beghe was born and raised in New York City where she grew up studying classical piano and sang in the church choir. In her teens she found her true calling while learning to sing and play the songs of Aretha Franklin, Odetta, Betty Carter and Bonnie Raitt. One of her first gigs was the front room of Hoboken’s legendary Maxwell’s playing the piano and singing Mose Allison songs. “I would mix those up with Stevie Wonder tunes, Tom Petty’s “Refugee,” Aerosmith’s “Dream On” she remembers. “My piano playing was not cocktail piano, it was rock and roll piano. I wouldn’t do standards. I wouldn’t do requests. I just wanted to get out there and play as a musician.” Francesca spent the next several years developing her own songwriting and playing around the New York club scene performing in virtually every major venue in the area opening for Jerry Garcia, Jorma Kaukonen, Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry and Brownie Mcghee (among others) at The Ritz, Roseland, The Beacon Theatre and The Bitter End. Her first demo project was produced by Jimmy Miller, renowned producer of the Rolling Stones and Steve Winwood. In 1989, Francesca was signed to EMI Music Publishing when her song “Trust in Me” was recorded by Joe Cocker. In 1990, she was signed to SBK/EMI Records by it’s founder Charles Koppelman, who fell in love with her record and put the full weight of his promotion machine behind her. In 1991, Francesca released her debut album for SBK/EMI Records to immediate critical acclaim. Reviews in such notable magazines as Rolling Stone, People and Musician became the standard as Beghe supported her release with a national tour opening for Michael Bolton and making multiple appearances on “The Tonight Show.” She was voted VH1’s Artist of the Month and is often compared to iconic female vocalists Aretha Franklin, Carly Simon, Bonnie Raitt and “…best of all, nobody you’ve ever heard of.” (People) In 1993, Francesca went back into the studio with writer/producer Glen Ballard (Alanis Morrissette, Aerosmith, Dave Mathews). She emerged with a beautifully crafted and recorded album which was mixed by Ed Cherney and featured songs co-written with Ballard and other legendary writers including J.D. Souther, and Will Jennings. Sadly, amid the chaos and cost-cutting that ultimately led to the label’s demise, the album was never released. Francesca continued working. Her song “Trust in Me,” recorded by Joe Cocker, was featured in the Oscar nominated film “The Bodyguard” starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. “No Use Talkin’” co-written with Cindy Bullens and recorded by Irma Thomas, was featured in the film “Double Jeopardy,” starring Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman. Her song “Names on a Wall” about the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. was chosen by veteran’s groups for the title page of www.VietnamWar.com and is featured in an anti-war video produced by the group Veterans for Peace. After taking some time off to start a family Francesca went back into the studio to record a new album. Produced by Ben Wisch and her husband Ben Green, she has assembled an all star cast including Marc Cohn, Jonatha Brooke, Shawn Pelton, Lenny Pickett and Ollabelle. With the grace and conviction so evident in her earlier work, Francesca stands poised and ready to continue her story. http://www.francescabeghe.com/bio/index.htm News Francesca Beghe's new full length CD "Dreamworld" is now available online. The ten song album features nine new original tracks and a cover of Talking Heads’ “Listening Wind.” “This album has been a 2 ½ year labor of love. I was fortunate to work with an amazing group of musicians and technicians to hone and polish every song until it felt just right. I love this album and hope you do too.” fb About "Dreamworld": The Musicians: Vocals, Piano, Wurlitzer: Francesca Beghe Drums: Shawn Pelton, Ben Wittman and Jerry Marotta Bass: Paul Bryan and Tony Levin Guitars: Duke Levine, Marc Shulman and Larry Campbell Organ: Chris Palmaro Sax: Lenny Pickett Background Vocals: Marc Cohn, Jonatha Brooke and Amy Helm, Fiona McBain and Glen Patscha (of Ollabelle). Produced by Ben Wisch & Ben Green Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound “Dreamworld” is now available at CD Baby and Amazon Photos - Annette Solakoglu Album Design - Frank Famularo Francesca Beghe's Website Construction - Greg Rapaport http://www.francescabeghe.com/index.htm Press “…a musical gourmet…she has had time to appreciate and sing a little rock, jazz, soul, gospel, Latin-flavored pop, and her informed respect for all those genres is evident. "…the tunes are smartly written both lyrically and melodically. Beghe’s singing style is variously reminiscent of Carly Simon, Basia, Bonnie Raitt and best of all, nobody you ever heard of. She should be welcomed with open ears and arms, except perhaps by those record-store clerks who have to decide what bin to put her in.” People Magazine, Ralph Novak “…the kind of stunning, poised debut they don’t make anymore.” “…her tough, tender but no-nonsense style was influenced by the diversity she found in the Big Apple. “Just in my neighborhood we have Haitians and all kinds of Hispanics-Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, Mexicans. I open my window and I’ve got Haitian music and salsa blasting all the time.” “…one listen is enough to convince cynics that the lady is a find.” Musician Magazine, Leonard Pitts “Francesca Beghe…(at the Paramount, NYC)…has a breathtaking voice..." "…hers was a short set and Beghe had to deal with the problem of an audience that bought a ticket to see someone else.” “At first the crowd was noisy in anticipation…but Beghe’s big talent subdued the chatter, and by the close of her set I was surprised that the hot applause didn’t bring her back for an encore number.” “If you see her name on a marquee, buy a ticket and treat yourself to a very special performer.” Dan Aquilante, New York Post “Francesca Beghe: Sincere Passion and Crisp Images” “I really like this record. I like it for the way Francesca Beghe sings in a strong, direct voice highlighted by passionate little whispers. I like the songs she sings, too-the way they go from soft-edged pop romanticism to take charge anthems of love without ever feeling false or contrived. Beghe incorporates bits of R&B, rock, jazz, country, burglarizing each genre with a certain gutsy, appealing self-confidence. The lady is also a formidable composer, as evidenced by the album’s best track, the plaintive, meditative Names on a Wall. Her lyrics etch sharp indelible images- “The cold sweet morning air surrounds a crop of blank white crosses” – as sje sings of the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington. The song evokes with undeniable force the wall and all the anguish and loss it represents- yet it never follows the temptation to lapse into cheap, maudlin sentiment. I like Francesca Beghe. I think you will, too.” The Miami Herald, Leonard Pitts http://www.francescabeghe.com/press/index.htm

Taken from Last.fm

308 listeners  ·  1,977 plays via Last.fm