Today’s guest on the podcast is someone I have been a fan of for over 20 years. He’s a gifted lyricist, brilliant guitarist, both acoustic and electric, producer, singer, and storyteller, and on a constant quest to seek new challenges wherever he may find them. I’m talking about Francis Dunnery. Dunnery has always pushed the envelope of what he believes music can be by simply refusing to be boxed in to a specific genre. My first encounter with Francis was at a show back in 1997 at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia, after a friend gave me one of his CD’s and we went to see him play. As the former frontman of prog rockers, It Bites, Dunnery had embarked on a solo career, and what I witnessed that night on the stage changed my life. That’s not hyperbole; that’s my truth.
Dunnery is unapologetically authentic, which is what I love about him. We yak it up about his musical influences, his love of 70’s music, his favorite band, Genesis, his creative process, and to how he has zero interest in remaining stagnant or complacent. His musical collaborations have included working with Robert Plant, Ian Brown, Lauryn Hill, Santana, and Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe as a producer and/or collaborator with David Sancious, and Chris Difford of Squeeze. I asked Francis how he landed the gig as Robert Plant’s guitarist, and what he said, both surprised and delighted me.
In 2002, Dunnery founded the Charlie and Kathleen Dunnery Children’s Fund, a volunteer-run fundraising charity based in his hometown of Egremont, and named in honor of his late parents, whose mission is to provide grants and charitable donations to organizations that directly benefit local Cumbrian children in need. Throughout his life, Dunnery experienced things most of us only get to read about in rock magazines. From his life on the road touring with Former Led Zep frontman Robert Plant to today, living a more quite existence in the mountains of Pennsylvania away from the music industry.
Dunnery’s next big adventure is “The Life Farm” which will provide meaningful employment to the under served and will offer a variety of classes involving nature and the arts. This interview is a fun, wild ride through the mind of someone I have admired for a long time, and I believe, you’ll understand why after you hear our conversation. I’m grateful that he sat down with me to discuss his life, music, and work. Here is my Ad Yack….with Francis Dunnery.
Facebook: @FrancisDunnery Instagram: @thelifefarm
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