Frankie Francis, play your sax in heaven

THE EDITOR: Frankie Francis was one of the leading saxophone players in Trinidad for many years. He was one of the most sought after players. He played for almost every calypsonian you may think of as far back as in the early forties. At that time he was also a prominent member of the John “Buddy” Williams Orchestra, a very popular band at the time. Later he became a member of the Mano Marcellin Orchestra and Syl Dopson and the calypso boys. On every recording session the calypsonians always wanted to know if Frankie Francis will be on the session. It seems as if they were never comfortable unless Frankie was in the session.

I had known Frankie Francis for many years and he was always willing to impart his musical knowledge to many musicians. I was one of them. He was an icon that never got the recognition he so rightly deserved. Frankie Francis began playing professionally at a tender age, playing the alto sax and clarinet, then he took up the tenor sax to add variety playing all kinds of music. Waltz, Jazz, Calypso, Castillian and Pop Classics. He played with both local and international bands accompanying such greats as the Roaring Lion, Growling Tiger, Lord Kitchener, Lord Melody, Lord Cristo, Lord Blakie, Lord Pretender, Mighty Sparrow, Black Stalin and Denyse Plummer, just to name a few. He later became the musical director of the Telco Recording Studio where his principal responsibility was the evaluation and selection of artistes for the label.

I did a CD with Frankie Francis. Incidentally that was his last appearance in a recording studio and he played as if he knew it was his last, you could hear the versatility in the man. It was indeed an honour and I will always cherish to know that I was the last person to do a recording with this great man on a CD entitled “As Time Goes By.” I consider it to be a collector’s item. Frankie Francis, I know you will continue to play your sax in heaven. May you rest in peace! Frankie Francis never got a National Award; what a pity!

RALPH DAVIES
Pianist