Francesca Capasso
Singer/Songwriter/Actress/Vocal Instructor/Breast Cancer Survivor-Advocate
The daughter of a Mexican/American (Tex-Mex) Mother, and Italian/American Father. Soulful and powerful Francesca puts her whole heart into her singing style! Born and raised in the Great Lone Star State of Texas, Francesca was exposed to some great Country, Folk, Blues, Soul and Rock Music. Performing since the age of 2, when her mother put her in Ballet classes, she has made the stage her home from an early age.
At age 11, Francesca's Secret Service Agent father was transferred to San Juan, Puerto Rico from San Antonio, Texas. It was in Puerto Rico where she did her first T.V. Commercial and Studio Recordings, as well as live gigs.
Upon graduating High School in Houston Texas, Fran moved to Los Angeles where she hit the club scene looking for gigs. Sometimes begging to sit in, with greats like Sam Andrew (Big Brother and The Holding Company) and Buddy Miles. It wasn't long before she landed a gig singing background vocals for Sixties Motown Artist, Bobby Taylor (from Bobby Taylor and The Vancouvers) at the World Famous CINEGRILL at The Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California.
In 1994 Ms. Capasso had the pleasure of performing on an ALL STAR USO show on the USS CARL VINSON in the pacific ocean with guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, Bassist Tony Franklin, and wrecking crew drummer, Hal Blaine. hosted by Lorenzo Lamas.
In the 90's it wasn't long till she began getting the attention of A&R Reps. Randy Jackson (of American Idol) who was then the V.P. of A&R at Sony/CBS, signed Francesca to a development deal. When this deal did not work out, Francesca landed a deal with BMG Ariola in Munich Germany. When this deal did not work out, the determined singer came back to the US and formed her Blues Rock Band "FRANCESCA AND THE FLAMES".
The CD REBEL CHILE recorded at The World Famous CHEROKEE SYUDIOS in Hollywood, California, and produced by Cherokee owners, Grammy Award winning Producers, The Robb Brothers, earned Fran and The Flames a LA Music Award nomination for BEST ROCK CD in 2000. The band received many raving reviews and was voted in the Top 100 BEST UNSIGNED BANDS by the Music Connection Magazine, many years in a row.
In 2002 Francesca made her MUSICAL debut in Los Angeles at the Coronet Theatre in ALL MEN ARE DOGS, a Musical Comedy written my Dailey Pike in which she garnered GREAT reviews for her portrayal of Donatella, a betrayed housewife.
Ms. Capasso can be heard belting out the house dance single, BEEN TO THE MOUNTAIN on the Pride 2000 CD. Released by CENTAUR ENTERTAINMENT in New York. Aretha Franklin and Martha Wash can be heard on the CD as well.
The single was also released on Centaurs UTOPIA CD to raise money for victims of hate crimes. Elton John, Moby, Donna Summer, Cyndi Lauper, Gloria Estefan and Bonnie Raitt contributed singles to the cause.
2004-2006, Francesca and her all female soul/blues band SOME LIKE IT HOT performed every Wed. night at the blues club COZY'S in Sherman Oaks, CA. These talented ladies have shared the stage with Melissa Ethridge, and Spencer Davis (to name a few), and performed several times at "WOMENS NIGHT" for LA's Gay and Lesbian Center. SLIH was also nominated in Music Connections "Top 100 best unsigned bands" several years in a row.
In 2007, Francesca's was heard on the FOX comedy TV SHOW "TALK SHOW WITH SPIKE FERESTEN" as the sound -a- like singing voice of Patti Labelle for the "Patti Labelle sings about her other ailments "segment which was produced by Stevie Salas and Nard Berings.
In October 2008 Francesca performed at the LONG BEACH BLUES FESTIVAL with talented guitarist and future Scorch Sister, Kimberly Allison.
In 2008, 2009 Fran landed the jingles on MATTEL'S new "UNO SHUFFLE and UNO ATTACK games. These commercial jingles were composed and produced by Nard Berings at FRESH BEAT STUDIO in Venice, California.
A four year breast cancer survivor, Francesca was interviewed by Bob Bazell, for the NBC Nightly news about her participation in THE AVON CARES FOR LIFE BREAST CANCER NAVIGATIONAL PROGRAM. The segment aired in October 2010 for breast cancer awareness month.
Francesca performed at The SEARS CENTRE ARENA in Chicago, and THE STURGIS BIKE RUN in Sturgis South Dakota, with International Actor/Singer, Branscombe Richmond (from the hit T.V. show Renegade) and his 10 piece band, THE RENEGADE POSSE.
Francesca has had the pleasure of working with many top notch musicians such as Drum Legends, Carmine Appice and Hal Blaine, Grammy Award winning Producer/Drummer, Tony Braunagel, Vail Johnson (Bass- Kenny G), Jimmy Haslip
(Bass-The Yellow Jackets) as well as Actor/Singer Branscombe Richmond and German Actor/Singer Reiner Schone.
She has opened up for: Robben Ford, Joe Cocker, The Funky Meters, Kenny Wayne Shepard, Johnny Winter, Blues Legends, Sugar Pie Desanto and Barbara Morrison, The Little River Band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Vince Neil.
Fran can be heard singing on the First Ever 3-D Commercial for MINI COOPER'S MINI vs. MONSTER campaign released in movie theaters internationally on Jan. 2011.
Look for Francesca on the hit Showtime series, SHAMELESS, on Sunday Feb. 6, 2011 she is a featured background actress in a cancer support group. The scene with actor Willian H. Macy was recently featured at UCLA'S JONSSON CANCER'S CENTER'S FOUNDATION Fund raiser - TASTE FOR A CURE in April 2011 at The Beverly Wilshire Hotel, honoring Showtime President of Entertainment - David Nivens with the Gil Nikel Humanitarian Award .