Francis "Fran" Healy (born July 23, 1973 in Stafford, England) is a British rock musician. He is currently the lead singer and main songwriter of the Scottish band Travis, having written nearly all of the songs on their five studio albums. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 156 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Please see the file description page for further information. ... is the 204th day of the year (205th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... , Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire in England. ... Staffordshire (abbreviated Staffs) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... Travis is a British band from Glasgow, comprising Fran Healy (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Dougie Payne (bass, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals) and Neil Primrose (drums, percussion). ... is the 204th day of the year (205th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... , Stafford is the county town of Staffordshire in England. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... “Instrumentalist” redirects here. ... In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... This article is about the country. ... Travis is a British band from Glasgow, comprising Fran Healy (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Dougie Payne (bass, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals) and Neil Primrose (drums, percussion). ...

Music

Regarded as one of Britain's best present day songwriters and melodists, Healy’s songwriting has been publicly praised by numerous artists, including Paul McCartney, Elton John and Noel Gallagher (from British band Oasis). In 2005, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin called himself "a poor man’s Fran Healy". In interviews, Healy has talked of being influenced by songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney and Graham Nash (of the Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young fame). Healy has since played with both McCartney and Nash. Although Healy predominantly plays guitar, he has also recently begun to write and perform with piano. For a full discography of Travis songs written by Healy, see Healy Songs. A songwriter is someone who writes either the lyrics or the music for songs. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born May 29, 1967 in Burnage, Manchester, England) is an English songwriter, guitarist and occasional vocalist with the Manchester rock band Oasis. ... Oasis are an English rock band, formed in Manchester in 1991. ... Coldplay are an English rock band. ... This article is about the Coldplay musician. ... Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943) is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter. ... Graham Nash on cover of his recording, Wild Tales, 1973 Graham William Nash (born February 2, 1942) is an English-born singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and songwriting contributions in pop group The Hollies and folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and as a photography collector... The Hollies are an English Beat group formed in the early 1960s. ... Crosby, Stills & Nash, also Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young when including occasional fourth member Neil Young, are a folk rock/rock supergroup. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... A short grand piano, with the top up. ... 7 Candles 20 1922 Afterglow All I Want to Do Is Rock Alone On Christmas Day As You Are Big Chair Beautiful The Beautiful Occupation Blue Flashing Light Blue On A Black Weekend The Cage City In The Rain Closer Combing My Hair Chances Coming Around The Connection The Day...

Travis

Main article: Travis (band)

Healy's band, Travis, are a British alternative rock band from Glasgow, Scotland, also comprising Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose. One of Britain's most popular and respected modern bands, Travis have twice been awarded British album of the year at the annual BRIT Awards, and are often credited as having paved the way for British bands such as Coldplay and Keane. With the release of five studio albums, beginning with Good Feeling in 1997, they continue to enjoy critical and commercial success, while also being especially noted for their live performances. In addition to their music, much has been made of the likable, down to earth, and close nature of the band. A highly anticipated fifth studio album their first since 2003's 12 Memories and produced by long-time Travis, Radiohead, and more recently, Paul McCartney producer, Nigel Godrich was released in early May 2007, almost ten years since the release of the band's first album. Travis is a British band from Glasgow, comprising Fran Healy (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Dougie Payne (bass, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals) and Neil Primrose (drums, percussion). ... Travis is a British band from Glasgow, comprising Fran Healy (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Dougie Payne (bass, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals) and Neil Primrose (drums, percussion). ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... Dougie Payne (born Douglas Payne, 14 November 1972, in Glasgow, Scotland) is the bassist and backing vocalist of the Scottish rock band Travis. ... The subject of this article may not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ... Neil Primrose (b. ... The Brit Awards are the annual United Kingdom pop music awards founded by the British Phonographic Industry. ... Coldplay are an English rock band. ... Keane (IPA: /kin/) are an English piano rock band, first established in Battle, East Sussex in 1995, taking their current name in 1997. ... Good Feeling is an album by Travis. ... The Boy with No Name is the fifth studio album by Scottish alternative rock band Travis. ... 12 Memories is the fourth studio album by the Scottish rock band Travis, first released in 2003. ... Radiohead is an English rock band that formed in Oxfordshire in 1986. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Biography

Although born in Stafford, England, Healy grew up in Glasgow, Scotland – his parents' hometown. His mother had moved back to Scotland after divorcing her husband, who was violent towards her; as a result of this, Healy continues to refuse any contact with his father. Healy has said that both his mother and his grandmother were major influences on him as a child and also his best friend L.C . Healy attended Holyrood Secondary in the Govanhill area of Glasgow. Holyrood R.C. Secondary, commonly referred to as Holyrood, is a Catholic secondary school in the south-side of Glasgow, Scotland. ... Calder Street in Govanhill Govanhill is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. ...

Healy got his first guitar at age 13, after watching Roy Orbison performing "Pretty Woman" on television. Although as a young child at primary school, he had been awarded a book of Rabbie Burns poems and a certificate "For Outstanding Singing Abilities" after singing the old Scottish song "Westering Home" while dressed in a kilt, he showed no further interest in singing as he grew up. Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988), nicknamed The Big O, was an influential American singer-songwriter, guitarist and a pioneer of rock and roll whose recording career spanned more than four decades. ... For the film with a similar title, see Pretty Woman. ... For the chain gang fugitive and author from Georgia, see Robert Elliott Burns. ...

His interest in song writing first became serious when he was attending Glasgow School of Art, where future bandmates Andy Dunlop and Dougie Payne were fellow students. (Healy was studying towards becoming a painter.) The band that would become Travis (initially called "Glass Onion") was formed at this time, with Healy leaving art school to join the band, and then quickly establishing himself as the band's lead singer and songwriter. Before this, Healy's song writing output had amounted to a single song – an attack on his headmaster entitled "Mr. Mullin Blues" Sample lyric: "One day we had baked beans for tea/The whole smell filled the room/Then some bugger lit a match and the whole place went ka-boom!" A style of musical composition, song writing is the process of creating a short piece of music usually involving lyrics (called a song). ... Glasgow School of Art is one of four independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow. ... The subject of this article may not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ... Dougie Payne (born Douglas Payne, 14 November 1972, in Glasgow, Scotland) is the bassist and backing vocalist of the Scottish rock band Travis. ... Painting by Rembrandt self-portrait Detail from Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez, in which the painter portrayed himself at work For the computer graphics program, see Corel Painter. ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... A style of musical composition, song writing is the process of creating a short piece of music usually involving lyrics (called a song). ...

Travis’ first single, "All I Want to Do Is Rock", was written by Healy while on a visit to Millport on Greater Cumbrae, a small island in the Firth of Clyde. Going there with the sole intention of composing the best song he had ever written, Healy surprised even himself when the track was born. In spite of Healy’s success as a songwriter since, he is without formal musical training. As the band have risen to prominence, Healy has continued to be Travis’ main songwriter, as well as the band's main spokesman and most recognisable member. All I Want to Do Is Rock is the debut single from Scottish rock band, Travis. ... Great Cumbrae and other south-west coast islands Great Cumbrae (also known as Cumbrae or the Isle of Cumbrae) is an island in the lower Firth of Clyde, 4 Kilometers long by 2 Kilometers wide. ... Map of the Firth of Clyde and area The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. ... Travis is a British band from Glasgow, comprising Fran Healy (lead vocals, guitar, piano), Dougie Payne (bass, backing vocals, occasional lead vocals), Andy Dunlop (lead guitar, banjo, keyboards, backing vocals) and Neil Primrose (drums, percussion). ...

Since 2000, Healy has been in a long term relationship with German photographer and former make-up artist, Nora Kryst. Their first child, a son named Clay, was born in March 2006. Rather than Healy, the boy took his mother's surname, Kryst. They live in London, while also having an apartment in SoHo, New York City. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Cast-iron architecture in Greene Street SoHo is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

Make Poverty History

Healy is a part of the movement Make Poverty History. He has so far made two trips to Sudan with the Save the Children Organization, and, alongside his band, played at the Live 8 concerts in both London and Edinburgh. Healy also participated in Band Aid 20's re-recording of Do They Know It's Christmas? – Healy and friend Nigel Godrich also playing roles in its organization. // The Make Poverty History campaign (which is written as MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY) was a British and Irish coalition of charities, religious groups, trade unions, campaigning groups and celebrities who mobilized around the UKs prominence in world politics in 2005 to increase awareness and pressure governments into taking actions towards relieving absolute... Save the Children Logo Save the Children is an international non-profit organization dedicated to working for children. ... Official Live8 DVD, released in November 2005 Live 8 was a series of concurrent benefit concerts that took place on 2 July 2005, in the G8 states and in South Africa. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see Edinburgh (disambiguation). ... Cover art for the original Do They Know Its Christmas? release – artist Peter Blake Band Aid is a British and Irish charity supergroup founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia by releasing a record Do They... Cover art for the original Do They Know Its Christmas? release – artist Peter Blake Do They Know Its Christmas? is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 specifically to raise money for Ethiopian famine relief. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Trivia

• As well as Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney and Graham Nash, Healy is a fan of The Band and Arcade Fire. He is also a fan of stand-up comedy.
• Healy has a black belt in karate (gained as a child).
• During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Healy made the haircut the "hoxton fin" famous.
• Healy is known to be a big supporter of Celtic FC

Joni Mitchell, CC (born Roberta Joan Anderson on November 7, 1943) is a Canadian musician, songwriter, and painter. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. ... Graham Nash on cover of his recording, Wild Tales, 1973 Graham William Nash (born February 2, 1942) is an English-born singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and songwriting contributions in pop group The Hollies and folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and as a photography collector... For other uses, see Band. ... Arcade Fire (often known as The Arcade Fire) is an indie rock band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Karate (disambiguation). ... The Hoxton Fin refers to a style of haircut popular with young men in the achingly trendy Hoxton and Shoreditch districts of London during the period 2000 - 2004. ... Celtic F.C. (pronounced seltic, not keltic) is perhaps the most famous Scottish football club. ...

External links

• Official Travis site
• Fran in Sudan
• http://travis.ography.co.uk - Unofficial Travis discography site