One By One [CD]

Robert Francis recalls the voice of a simpler and more truthful era when people were crazier and sang about things that mattered. Growing up in Los Angeles as the youngest in a family of musicians, Robert possesses a maturity far beyond his nineteen years. From the time he was born, he was surrounded by music of all genres thanks to his eccentric classical-record-producer and pianist father, a Mexican mother who frequently invited her sisters over to sing Ranchero songs, a Hari Krishna brother, and two older sisters who were in various rock bands that played in clubs all over the city (his sister Juliette Commagere is the singer of L.A. indie band Hello Stranger which Robert played bass in for a stint).At an early age Robert displayed a tremendous musical gift. He could play any instrument he picked up, and did so on his record, One by One, playing everything from drums, banjo, bass, piano and mandolin to his most natural instrument, the guitar. Ry Cooder gave him a vintage National when he was only nine, and John Frusciante took him on as his only student when he was sixteen.Writing and producing all his own material, he injects one hundred percent truth and emotion into each of his songs. He is often compared to a young Townes Van Zandt, Steve Earle or Neil Young, and with this record One by One, Robert Francis fills a colossal void that has been desperately missing from this generation of musicians.