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BIO
Born in Queens, New York City and raised near Atlantic City, NJ, Franco was raised at a crossroads. Coming from a home with an Italian mother and a Dominican father, he was raised being exposed to a broad musical spectrum stretching from seemingly opposite ends – the 70’s and 80’s rock of his mother and his father’s baladas and merengue – that one would ask how it would be possible to incorporate elements from such disparate sources and still maintain a certain level of familiarity to the casual listener. In his music he does just so – taking the twangy, yet punchy Bachata guitar styling of his guitar playing, laying it over unmistakable rock beats and topping it off with traditional Latin melodies to effortlessly and seamlessly create the soundtrack for a trip through modern Latin America. His gravelly, almost gypsy-like voice drives through his tracks powerfully, contributing to the overall mood of his songs. Writing primarily from personal experience, his incorporation of such personal lyrics lends it an air of authenticity that the Rock en Español audience has come to demand of its artists. His songs range quite a bit in theme – dealing with subjects ranging anywhere from the letting go of a lost love to the pursuit of our dreams to struggles that we all face on a daily basis. The combination of his moody voice, frank songwriting and ability to weave a hook into a song are a formula that compels the listener to enter his world. Franco’s background in music began at the age of 9, when he began studying his first instrument, the trumpet. Dedicating himself entirely to the study of music and his instrument, he quickly began to show his natural musical ability and dedication to music. He would be regularly selected for spotlight showcases throughout his musical education and would come to be recognized for his great talent. However, it was not until his teenage years that he began studying the instrument that would later come to mark his music: the guitar. Performing in various Bachata groups around the N.Y./N.J. area,Franco would come to perform as the opening act for established acts such as Oro Sólido, Luis Vargas, Anthony Santos and Raulín Rodriguez before he would leave behind the traditional Bachata genre and begin performing what he truly felt and loved: Rock music. Franco would spend the following years diligently writing down thoughts, melodies and complete songs in a leatherback book given to him by a family member, completing a musical diary that would contain all of the elements necessary for him to make his debut as a solo artist. He would come to perform quite frequently in Europe as well as the United States, grasping audiences with his energetic stage show and catchy songs. His first recordings, completed in a shed converted into a recording studio, were very enthusiastically received by press and music fans alike and would come to present the Latin Alternative scene with a new face and a unique sound – a sound a little Latin, a little American but all energy
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