Beyond the Weeping Willow is the autobiography of country music recording artist and practicing cardiologist Cleve Francis. Born to a struggling family in the small town of Jennings, Louisiana, Cleveland Francis Jr. overcame numerous hurdles-through hard work and resolve-to become a respected and successful medical doctor and also one of the few Black artists ever to record country music for a major record label. Francis recorded three albums for Liberty Records during the early 1990s, which included his charting singles "Love Light" and "You Do My Heart Good," among others. He toured nationally and internationally, and he appeared frequently on television. Along the way, he was able to observe the Nashville music industry up close. He shares those observations candidly in his autobiography. The book traces three key threads throughout the life of Francis: his lifelong love of performing music and writing songs, his abiding interest in science and medicine, and his determination to overcome racial barriers through personal achievement. Francis's life story provides insights into the experiences of a gifted singer navigating the high-stakes world of country music in the 1990s and the all-too-common struggles of Black Americans for equity in this country. Above all, this is a story of perseverance and ultimate triumph in the face of many obstacles.
Cleve Francis is a singer, songwriter, and performer as well as a fully credentialed cardiologist. He released his first recording, a 45-rpm single, in 1967, and subsequently he recorded an album, Follow Me, which was released in 1968. He made several records in the 1980s for independent labels before being signed by Capitol Nashville/Liberty Records in 1992 as a country music recording artist, touring nationally and internationally. During this period, he took a leave from his cardiology practice and released three albums for Liberty between 1992 and 1994. He returned to his cardiology practice in 1995. Since then he has continued to perform live engagements and occasionally record. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
Dedication Author's Note Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Discography and Videography Afterword: Where Are They Now? Acknowledgments
"Cleve Francis has inspired me since I walked into his doctor's office decades ago. He is a medicine man who moves like a human melody, and this memoir is an honest and unforgettable song where identity bends into lyric and memory's rhythm keeps time. When he's onstage, we are all his patients. His voice--on record and in this book--is unmistakably healing and insightful. Do your heart good and read this brilliant history aloud. Let each word be a ballad that makes you smile or at least hope. Let his remarkable story cure some of the woe in our world, inspire you to play on and on." --Kwame Alexander, award-winning author and TV producer "Cleve's story really resonated with me as a Southerner who also had a strong mother that sacrificed for her son's pursuit of a dream. This book is a heartfelt, honest portrayal of not only a Black man, but a Black musician preserving Black culture and its influence during a time of transition in our country. Thank you, Cleve." --Darius Rucker "Dr. Cleve Francis has led a life of service to his community and the world through his work as a doctor and as a musician. He's a trailblazer in every sense of the word. His founding of the Black Country Music Association and subsequent advocacy work has made a huge impact on my own career and influenced and inspired me to do the same for others. I am so happy the world will know his story in his own words, on his own terms." --Rissi Palmer, country music artist and radio host "Essential work from an essential Black country artist. By telling his improbable story, Cleve Francis--a brilliant cardiologist who became a noted country singer-- broadens our understanding of Music City and deepens our understanding of America." --Alice Randall, bestselling author and songwriter "I was delighted to work with Cleve Francis, who had one of the finest country music voices I ever encountered. He could light up any stage and charm any audience. Cleve wasn't just a great Black country artist; he was a great country artist, period. His life story is an amazing version of the American dream." --Jimmy Bowen, producer and record executive "Over the years, those of us who write country music songs for a living have explored some unusual subject matter in our writings. But none of us, even in our most arcane moments, would have ever dreamed up a story about a Black cardiologist turning his back on a promising medical career to become a country music singer. That's the tale Dr. Cleve Francis tells in this book. And not only does he tell it, and tell it well, but like the best country songs, it's true. I had a hard time putting it down." --Bill Anderson, Grand Ole Opry star "Since before his time as a graduate student at William & Mary, Cleve Francis has pursued two loves: music and medicine. Country, blues, folk, and cardiology: his story has much to teach the next generation of talented leaders about pursuing excellence with grit and flair." --Katherine A. Rowe, president, The College of William and Mary
