Effective period / Period of releases: 1973 - 1974

Canadian guitarist and vocalist.
Born February 9, 1931 in Eberts, Ontario.
Died June 30, 2010 in Chatham, Ontario.
Francis formed his first band The Whippoorwills in the late 1950’s and they quickly earned a solid reputation by backing up touring Nashville stars like Ray Price, Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves, Faron Young, Ferlin Husky, etc., and making appearances on major stages. The Whippoorwills hosted a “live” show for more than five years over CFCO radio. They recorded three albums in the mid 1960’s: “The Whippoorwills” released on Canatal Records; "Country & Western" on Mustang; and “Country Jamboree” on Arc Records.
After the demise of The Whippoorwills, Ray Francis joined Gary Buck’s touring country band based out of Sault Ste. Marie, and shortly afterwards, returned home to Chatham where he formed his own short-lived band, which featured his son Mike “Pepe” Francis on lead guitar. After Mike was lured away to work major recording sessions in Toronto, and Ray formed another back-up band, The Rancheros.
By the early 1970’s, Ray Francis was also launching a solo recording career with a debut album, “The Country Way”, released on Marathon Records.