Today, Mike Francis would have turned 64 years old.
Mike Francis, born as Francesco Puccioni on April 26, 1961, in Florence, was one of the outstanding Italian pop artists of the 1980s. His music, a mix of smooth jazz, Italo disco, and blue-eyed soul, shaped an era and left a lasting impression on the international music scene.
I grew up with Mike Francis in the 80s and 90s, and his noble wonderful pop music and fantastic voice always remind me of my beautiful childhood and youth in Italy. We spent weeks at the beach and listened to the best music there ever was, and that will never come back. The 70s, 80s, and 90s, to my knowledge, brought forth the best music and stars of all time. You had a tough choice when buying an LP; so many top albums came out that you couldn't keep up with buying them.you couldn't keep up with buying them.
A wonderful time when music still had a very high status in society.
Early years and musical breakthrough
At the age of 14, Mike Francis formed his first band with school friends from the Institute of American Studies in Rome. His international breakthrough came in 1984 with the hit 'Survivor', which achieved high chart positions not only in Italy but also in Germany and England.
Collaboration with Amii Stewart
In the same year, Francis wrote the song 'Friends' for the American disco queen Amii Stewart. The duet was a big success and reached the top 10 in several countries. Other joint works like 'Together' and 'That Loving Feeling' solidified their musical partnership.
Other musical projects
In the 2000s, Francis, together with his brother Mario (Mari-One) and the Maltese multi-instrumentalist Aidan Zammit, founded the project Mystic Diversions. The group combined world music with chill-out sounds and released several albums, including 'Crossing the Liquid Mirror' (2000) and 'Wave a Little Light' (2007).
In 2005, Francis returned to the spotlight when the German DJ duo Blank & Jones recruited him for their 'Relax' series. Together, they re-recorded the Van Morrison classic 'Someone Like You'. This collaboration led to the release of the album 'Inspired' in 2007, which included both covers and new songs.
Legacy and death
Mike Francis passed away on January 30, 2009, in Rome due to complications from lung cancer. Shortly before his death, the compilation 'The Very Best of Mike Francis (All Was Missing)' was released, providing a comprehensive overview of his musical work.
Conclusion
Mike Francis left behind an impressive musical legacy, marked by his unique compositions and collaborations with international artists. His songs like 'Survivor' and 'Friends' remain unforgettable and showcase his talent for blending emotional depth with catchy melodies.
For more information and music from Mike Francis, visit his official website: mikefrancis.it
