Philip V Francis

Infobox musical artist
Name = Philip V Francis (1964-2008)


Img_capt = Philip V Francis
Img_size = 182px
Landscape = Yes
Birth_name = Philip
Alias =
Born = Birth date and age|1964|11|5 flagicon|India Thrissur
Died = 04.03.2008
Instrument = Tabla, Guitar, Vocalist
Genre = Instrumentalist, hindustani music, western music
Occupation = Ghazal Singer,Composer,Tabla Player
Years_active = 1980 to 2008
URL =

Philip V Francis (born November 5th 1964 at Thrissur, Kerala), was a gifted and accomplished Tabla Player, Composer and Ghazal Singer, from Kerala, India. He died at the very young age of 43 in a bike accident on March 4th 2008.He is survived by his wife and a son.

Early Music Teacher's

Philip started off as a Congo drum player in the local orchestra group Neelambari, and under the able guidance of "Joeboy" a renowned player of drums, learnt the nuances of rhythm. He then migrated to Delhi to learn Tabla under the maestro Ustad Fiyaz Khan of the Delhi gharana. There after he emerged as a Tabla player of national repute. He also learnt carnatic music and mrudangam for brief stints under "Komattil Shanta Kumari" and "Purushothama Sharma" of Thrisssur.

Evolution into a complete Musician

Philip was never satisfied with what he learnt and later on studied western classical music and mastered the Guitar and Piano too. He also started composing and conducting Choir in Churches in and around Thrissur. His love for Ghazals saw him doing Ghazal programs and becoming popular as a Ghazal singer too in his short life span.He also worked with the late music Director Raveendran as an assistant in some films.

Awards and achievements

Philip was the representative of the Delhi gharana School of music in Thrissur, Kerala and he had numerous disciples who were learning Tabla under him.

He has performed in All India Radio, Doordarshan, Kairali, Asianet etc. as an accompanist on the Tabla for many leading singers like S. Janaki, P. Jayachandran, Gayatri Asokan, Pradip Somasundaran and performed as a Ghazal singer in many of the Television channels

He was a graded Artist of All India Radio both as a Tabla player and as a composer and his compositions used to be regularly broadcast in the All India Radio.

The Govt. of India recognised his talents and in 2003 he was deputed to Guyana, West Indies as a cultural ambassador by I.C.C.R . He was back to Kerala after his contract was over in 2007.He was one among the 50 eminent people of Thrissur, honoured by the Corporation of Thrissur in 2007 for his contributions towards music.His last work as a music director was for the film "Oridathoru Puzhayundu" directed by "Kalavoor Ravikumar".

He was a major influence on many of the music directors and musicians of the younger generation like Alphons Joseph and Gayatri Asokan.

He has several albums to his credit for which he gave music. Some of them were

Albums

1)Thoovana

2)Ninakkai Nadha Kanneer

3)Kabir

4)Abheri & Bhimpalas(2008)- Manorama Music 5)Philip-Sangeeth Ka Amar Sur- (Ghazals)

Film(Background Score)

1) Oridathoru Puzhayundu

Tributes

As a glowing tribute to this versatile musician, music lovers of Thrissur have formed "Piano", an organisation in his memory which aims to promote music and harmony. The organisation plans to hold an yearly music festival at Thrissur, and institute an endowment in his name on an academic level. "Piano" was formally inaugurated by the Nightingale of South India, "S. Janaki" on 3.05.08. Ustad Fiyaz Khan the Tabla Maestro and Philip's Guru was present on the occasion.

References

* [http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/05/stories/2008030552880300.htm]
* [http://www.hindu.com/2008/03/09/stories/2008030954000500.htm]
* [http://www.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.DLL/portal/ep/musicAlbumDetails.do?albumOid=239508&id=-1073793665&BV_ID=@@@ Album for Manorama Music]
* [http://www.casvdy.org/pianonews.htm Piano in memory of Philip V Francis]