Singer-songwriter David Francey is a common man with an uncommon ability to reach others through song. His strong vocals and powerful lyrics combine to make his subjects – from the foreclosed farmer to the Canadian soldier in Dieppe, the working Joe to the teenage lover – immediate and intensely moving.
David Francey was born in 1954 in Ayrshire, Scotland where he got his first taste of the working life as a paperboy. David learned to read at an early age, and by age 10, was devouring the newspapers he delivered, establishing a life long interest in politics and world events while developing the social conscience that forms the backdrop of his songs.
David was 12 when he and his family immigrated to Toronto. His love of the landscape, the history and the people of his adopted country can be traced back to family weekend drives exploring southern Ontario.
Music played a large part in these family outings. The Franceys sang traditional Scottish tunes as they drove through the Canadian countryside. David’s dad and sister sang melody while David and his mother sang harmonies.
David’s attachment to Canada grew with his travels. He hitched across the country three times and then thumbed his way to the Yukon. This attachment surfaces in his songs of rail lines, farms and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
His understanding of the people grew as he worked in Toronto train yards, the Yukon bush and as a carpenter in the Eastern Townships. These experiences colour his CDs with songs like Hard Steel Mill, Mill Towns and Valley’s Edge.
In concert David is a singer and a storyteller who can establish, in moments, a personal rapport with his audience. His wry humour and astute observations combined with his openhearted singing style have earned him a loyal following.
In performance David is accompanied by a guitarist. Additional instrumentalists are available for a fuller sound.
Francey’s groundbreaking first CD, Torn Screen Door, features Montreal guitarist, Dave Clarke. Francey won the 2002 JUNO award for his second CD, Far End of Summer in the Best Roots and Traditional Solo category. Clarke, Toronto multi-instrumentalist Geoff Somers and musical friends James Keelaghan, Mike Ford and Dave Matheson (from Moxy Fruvous), and more appear on Far End of Summer. Francey’s third CD, Skating Rink, won the 2004 JUNO in the same category and his upcoming CD, Waking Hour, recorded in Nashville with Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch and Fats Kaplin came out in the spring /04 on the Jericho Beach label.
Torn Screen Door, Far End of Summer and Skating Rink are on Francey’s own label, Laker Music, and are available from the artist at www.davidfrancey.com and through Festival Distribution at www.festival.bc.ca
David lives with his wife, artist Beth Girdler and their three children Amy, Julia and Colin in the quiet but charming village of Elphin in southern Ontario.
