Don Francisco

CCM singer/songwriter Don Francisco was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1946; the son of a seminary professor, he nevertheless pursued a career as a secular performer until a supernatural experience at the age of 28 convinced him to begin singing the praises of Christ. Issuing his debut LP Brother of the Son in 1976, over the course of subsequent efforts including 1980's Got to Tell Somebody, 1983's Holiness, 1988's High Praise and 1991's Vision of the Valley Francisco earned renown for story songs like "He's Alive" as well as comforting narratives including "I'll Never Let Go of Your Hand." In 1997, he celebrated 20 years in the ministry by releasing He's Alive, his 12th collection of original material to date; Beautiful to Me appeared a year later, and Francisco resurfaced in 1999 with Grace on Grace. ~ Jason Ankeny