Winston Francis

With smooth vocal tones that conjured up memories of Nat "King" Cole in one of his earliest musical mentor's minds, Winston Francis was a natural fit for the 1970s rocksteady movement. He began at Jamaica's legendary Studio One in the early-'70s, scoring minor hits, like his cover of Joe South's "Games People Play," and the captivating "Reggae and Cry." While promoting his 1971 single version of "California Dreaming," he relocated to London, adding a new dimension to his melodic reggae sound, while recording a spate of classic sides. After a six-year hiatus, he sang backing vocals for the Melodians and performed for Trevor Star and the Skaticians, and later became a star in France when his interpretation of Ben E. King’s "Stand By Me" sold over 90,000 copies.