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Artist
Carol Fran
12+ albums
rhythm and bluessoulfemale vocalistsbluespiano
about
Carol Fran (October 23, 1933 – September 1, 2021) was an American soul blues singer, pianist, and songwriter, best known for her string of single releases in the 1950s and 1960s, and her later musical association with her husband, Clarence Hollimon, releasing albums as Carol Fran & Clarence Hollimon. Fran was born Carol Martin near Lafayette in southwest Louisiana. She began her jump blues singing career with Don Conway, and subsequently relocated to New Orleans. There she married a saxophone player, Bob Francois, which allowed a simple abbreviation to arrive at her stage name. Establishing a musical presence around Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Fran also undertook a tour of Mexico. Her debut single was "Emmitt Lee", recorded in 1957 and released by Excello Records. Three more singles ensued, but lack of success saw Fran singing with Guitar Slim, and after his death in 1959, she then sang alongside Nappy Brown, Lee Dorsey, and Joe Tex. Lyric Records then offered her a recording contract, and she released a swamp-pop version of "The Great Pretender" (1962) and a cover version of "Crying in the Chapel" (1964). Despite a reissue of the latter on Josie Records, her momentum was stalled by Elvis Presley's release of his own version. Her follow-up, "You Can't Stop Me", was enhanced by an arrangement by Sammy Lowe, whilst the Bobby Darin song "A World without You" also failed to sell well. After another effort, "Any Day Love Walks In", she returned to the concert circuit. In 1967
top songs
albums
The Complete Calla, Port and Roulette Recordings
Our New Orleans
Bluesoul Belles: The Complete Calla, Port & Roulette Recordings
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Our New Orleans: A Benefit Album
The Frantastic Carol Fran
Talcum Soul 5
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House Rockin' 1950s Rhythm & Blues, Vol. 2
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Our New Orleans: A Benefit Album for the Gulf Coast
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Our New Orleans 2005
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Another Saturday Night
Bluesoul Belles
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Louisiana Gumbo