User:Kevinbathman/Francissca peter

FRANCISSCA PETER or Fran as she is affectionately known, has enjoyed a fruitful and distinguished musical career in Malaysia with over twenty No. 1 hits in the local music charts and the title of "Best Female Vocalist" for five consecutive years in the 80’s. She has over 30 albums to her name.

She is the Ambassador to the International Aid Organisation World Vision in Malaysia for the 5th year running.

This year 2010, Fran embraces and celebrates her 32nd Anniversary as an Artiste / Singer / Composer / Lyricist / Actress / Vocal Stylist & Coach and a Judge for numerous dance, singing and songwriting competitions.

In 1987, Fran defeats other ASEAN finalists to win the award for "Best Song" at the 'Asean Song Festival' held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

She is also known nationwide for her rendition of Malaysia's 2nd National Anthem 'Setia'.

Fran has lent her voice to numerous TV Commercials/Ads such as ‘Embracing Proton’ (she was the very first Proton Girl) and took the stage at the National Grand Parade launching the 1st ever Malaysian car, Malaysian Airlines (the National Carrier) with the theme ‘To Know Malaysia is to Love Malaysia’ which was later used as a song for Tourism Malaysia, McDonald’s, Nescafe, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Courts Mammoth, Carlsberg, Honda and many others.

In 1984, Fran was chosen as the first and only Anti-Dadah Campaign Girl for more than a year (Malaysian Anti-Drug Spokesperson). Her Anti-Dadah Campaign Poster could be found in every Police Station in the country. The theme song for the campaign was ‘Si Mata Merah’ from her then album and part of the proceeds for the sale of the song went to the Anti-Dadah Campaign.

In 1990, with 5 Platinums discs, 2 Gold discs and numerous awards to her name, Fran set a for the United States of America to widen her horizons internationally. During her two years in Los Angeles, Fran had the opportunity to work with various artists including Jazz Fusion pianist Brian Simpson, Sam Simms, Michael Winans of the gospel group "The Winans", Vassal Benford, Kirk Whalum, Scott Maio and Himalaya. She also appeared as guest vocalist on Jazz Saxophonist Cal Bennett's album "Stolen Moments" singing "Liberian Girl". "Jazziz Magazine" and "Bre Magazine" in the USA called her vocals "A Lush Standout, An Ingenious Outing and the Most Outstanding Track".

In 2000, Fran starred in the beloved musical "The King and I" with The Hong Kong Singers. She played the role of Lady Thiang. The musical was directed by Ian Robinson and conducted by Julian Grant, one of Britain's leading Opera composers. It was produced by Rupert McCowan.

“The King and I” played to sell-out audiences throughout its 9-day run at The Hong Kong City Hall.

While she has been successful as a commercial artiste, she is also always remembered in Malaysia as the first jazz vocalist who helped launch "All That Jazz", the first ever jazz club in Malaysia. She has performed worldwide in cities like Los Angeles, London, China, Brunei, Singapore and while on the local front, has worked with the likes of jazz maestros Michael Veerapen, Lewis Pragasam, Leonard Yeap, Jeremy Koay, Khairil, Wan, Gary Gideon, Jose Thomas, Dato’ Mokhzani, Greg Lyons, the late Terry Thaddeus, Tony Makarome Yue, David Gomes, Eric Li, Steve Thornton, Mac Chew and others.

Fran was also the first Asian artiste to inaugurate and perform at the new Derby Jazz Bar at the prestigious Hong Kong Jockey Club in 2003. She crooned jazz standards, Broadway and classic tunes which are her fortes, along with top bassist Paul Candelaria, who has played at numerous World Jazz Festivals including The Montreal Jazz Festival and pianist Adonis V De Jesus.

In 2007, she was the lead soloist in the “Musical SPEX – A Spiritual Journey” held outdoors under the open night sky in Malacca.

With a perpetual hunger for new musical experiences and different audiences Fran, who springs from a multi-ethnic background (father a retired Journalist / Editor and Ex-Malaya British Military of Sri Lankan and Scottish background with a penchant for Jazz and Latin American music and a ballad loving Chinese mother), has managed to blend in culturally to any situation during her extensive travels and this unique ability has enabled her to achieve a warm and spontaneous rapport wherever she performs.

In celebration of her 29th anniversary in the music industry, Warner Music Malaysia released a double compilation CD album containing her 19 popular hits and 1 brand new song in 2007. Warner had also released two other compilation albums of Fran’s in 2008 and one in particular released March 2008 is aptly titled ‘Nostalgia Abadi’ ( Forever Nostalgic) and another in 2009 titled ‘Memori Hit’(Memory Hits).

“Keunggulan Francissca Peter”, her latest 37 song compilation album released late January 2010 has many requested songs added in because of the amazing insistent letters and emails sent to recording label Warner Music from her faithful adoring Fans who are actually pushing for the complete box set of all her albums.

She has been sponsoring a boy from India under the World Vision Child Sponsorship programme for the fifth year now and is also sponsoring a 2nd child from Indonesia. Besides being a child sponsor and Ambassador to World Vision Malaysia, Fran is constantly involved in numerous campaigns undertaken by World Vision specifically aimed at promoting and raising awareness for this non-profit organisation and its work for children all over the world and assisting and taking part in other causes and events organized by other NGOs.

Fran who performed for the President of Singapore in honour of Exemplary Mothers late 2008, also performed for the New Year’s Eve and August 2008’s Merdeka Eve KLCC-Petronas Concerts in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Here are just a few of her recent performances and upcoming projects:

• The World Vision 30-Hour Famine Concert in Kuching, Sarawak on 21st March 2009.

• The AIA-LUSEB Mega Sales Congress at the Genting International Convention Centre on 7th and 8th May 2009.

• The World Vision 30-Hour Famine Concert in Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur on 23rd August 2009 having sang a Duet with Malaysian-born Taiwanese star Michael Wong and shared the stage with fellow Malaysian Artistes and mega Taiwanese star A-Mei.

• Fran presents a prestigious and final highlight of the night award with renowned Playback Singer/Artiste from India at the 1st Astro Indian Raaga Awards Nite at the Palace of the Golden Horses in October 2009.

• The Retired Armed Forces Officers’ Reunion November 2009.

• 70’s Fever “Industry Dinner’ for the Malaysian Oil & Gas Services Council November 2009.

• Judge at the Semi-Finals and Finals of the CIMB Star Singing Competition between Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia November 2009.

• For the 2nd time and in November 2009, as World Vision’s Ambassador, she is visited villages in Vijayawada, Hyderabad. The first World Vision trip to India was in 2008 where she visited villages in Coimbatore. The aim of the trips are to visit families in villages who are struggling to survive daily and meet families whose livelihood have been improved because of the partnership with World Vision that brings about sustainable development in situations concerning Education, HIV Aids and the food crisis.

• Performing at The AIA 2010 Pre-New Year Kick-off Celebrations Concert at Stadium Negara on 5th December 2009 as well as singing the AIA New Re-Branding Theme Song “The Power of We” written and composed by Bibiana Peter and Francissca Peter for AIA Bhd.

• At the Penang Turf Club Gold Members Dinner & Christmas Celebration on 25th December 2009.

• "This Is My World Vision" Campaign Launch at Tropicana City Mall PJ January 2010.

• TV3, RTM and ongoing Radio & TV Promos for Fran’s latest compilation album titled “Keunggulan Francissca Peter” released late January 2010.

• In aid of the Sg Ara Christian Community Centre, a Fundraising Dinner together with by Dato’ Leonard Tan & Gurmit Singh aka Phua Chu Kang in Penang February 2010.

• For IOI Corporation Berhad’s Unplugged Earth Hour Show on 27th March 2010 under the WWF flagship and to raise funds for the Malaysian Nature Society as well.

• For AIA LUSEB’s Mega Conference at The One World Hotel in April 2010.

• In aid of the OLOG Community Centre Puchong, a Fundraising Dinner together with the participation of Fran, Gurmit Singh aka Phua Chu Kang, Zarsadias Brothers and Gila Monstarz in May 2010.

• A Guest Speaker in June 2010 for the Starbucks ‘Live and Inspire’ Series, Fran speaks about ‘What her Vision is and about Life’.

• Showtime for Legend Hotel’s World Cup 2010 Celebrations and Appreciation Night.

• In July, a Fundraising Dinner, in aid of the Orang Asli Children’s Education Centre in Pahang.

• NCRC 10th Anniversary Fund Raising Dinner including a Sit & Dine with Fran VIP Invitation for a good cause.

• Power Opening for The World Vision 30-Hour Famine Concert in August 2010.

• Performing at the World Vision International Triennial Council.

With a fluency in English, Cantonese and Bahasa Malaysia, Fran who is also known as the Fundraising Queen, enjoys performing tunes in a wide variety of languages including English, Bahasa Malaysia, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi / Tamil, Japanese, French, Italian, German, Latin and Spanish. Her repertoire of songs include swing, classic and traditional jazz, Broadway tunes from famous musicals, contemporary pop & pop rock, disco, House and Techno, Gospel, semi-classical, evergreen melodies, R & B, commercial, current and her popular Malay ballads.