Mike Francis has gone to heaven! RIP!

From The Inquirer:

MANILA, Philippines—Mike Francis, international pop sensation in the 1980s passed away Friday due to a lingering illness. He was 47.
The Florence-born Francis, or Francesco Puccioni, had been particularly a favorite in Manila with his name figuring in the top acts during the heydays of electronic pop from 1985-1987, with such hits as “Friends” with Ami Stewart, “Survivor” with Belen Thomas, and his stirring solo “Let Me In.”
His only live album, “Mike Francis Live in Manila” that featured his highly successful 1989 gig at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, proves how his music was well-received in the country.
A greatest hits compilation, “The Very Best of Mike Francis” featuring a mix of his Italian and English hits, was released seven days before his death in Italy.

The founder of Mystic Diversions, Francesco Puccioni, also known as Mike Francis, passed away this morning. He was the heart and soul of Mystic Diversions. He was a rare person, the kind you don't often meet. An unconditionally generous and loving person. He also had a beautiful and unique voice...

Ciao Francesco..

From his website http://www.mikefrancis.it/:

Un grazie a tutti coloro che hanno lasciato e lasceranno un pensiero per Francesco. Musicista di grande bravura, semplicemente straordinario a me diceva sempre che la sua ragione di vita era scrivere musica; amava il lavoro di studio, non amava apparire in televisione era una persona molto riservata. Un giorno eravamo in macchina e mise un suo cd poi, mi chiese "ti piace questo cantante?" io dissi "tantissimo" lui rispose "a me non tanto". Era un ragazzo semplice, disponibile, modesto, una grande persona e nonostante fosse un grande artista ho imparato da Lui tanto sotto l'aspetto umano. Mi ricordava sempre che non aveva fans ma solo amici. Ho pianto tanto e parte del mio cuore è in viaggio con Lui. Comunque posso dire a tutti coloro che amano Francesco che ora è più vivo che mai, ha iniziato una nuova e lunga tournèe la più impegnativa. Fino a quando avrò la forza continuerò ad aggiornare il sito insieme al mio amico Mauro e mio nipote Luigi: conosceranno la sua musica tutti coloro che ancora non la conoscono.Ciao Amico mio, spero che la tua tournèe sia un grande successo. Ti saluto come facevo sempre con un grosso e forte abbraccio, il tuo caro amico Alessandro. Siamo vicini alla famiglia per la grande perdita.

Alessandro Mitola

Here is a rough english translation courtesy of Babelfish:

Thanks to those who they have left and lasceranno a thought for Francesco.

Musician of great bravura, simply extraordinary to me always said that its reason of life was to write music; he loved the study job, did not love to appear in television was a person much classified one.

A day we were in machine and put its then cd, me churches " it appeals to this singer to you? " I said " tantissimo" it answered " to me not tanto".

He was a boy simple, available, modest, a great person and although she was a great artist I have learned from He a lot under l' human aspect. It always remembered to me that it did not have fans but only friendly.

I have I plant a lot and it leave of my heart is in travel with He.

However I can say to those who they love Francesco who now is alive that never, has begun impegnativa the long new and tournèe. Till when I have the force I will continue to modernize the site with to my Mauro friend and my Luigi grandson: all will know its music those who still do not know it.

Hello Friendly mine, I hope that succeeding yours tournèe or a large one. Salute as I always made you with a large and strong embrace, your friendly beloved Alessandro. We are near the family for the great loss.

Alessandro Mitola

Another write up from italian news agency stating that he passed away due a lung tumor (cancer): Translated from italian via babelfish.

It has been gone some silently and without clamour, like of the rest had lived in the moments of greater popolarità: Mike Francis, to the registrar's office Francisco Puccioni, protagonist of musical boom POP-dance years Eighty, is died this morning to Rome. Been born to Florence 47 years ago, it is passed away all' Hospital S. Peter for a tumor to the lung.

The artistic distance of Francis is reassumed in the collection “The very Best of Mike Francis”, escape 20 January after two years of absence from the musical scene. 32 pieces that never reassume its double spirit Italian-English proposing pieces published and the successes they have introduced that it in Europe, from “Survivor” to “Friends”.

The career of Francis begins to 20 years, in 1981. After the debut like self-taught in the radius local, the first one happening, " Survivor" , it is of 1983. L' year after, is the ' boom' together to the American, but Italian singer of adoption, Amii Stewart with “Friends”: the song will arrive more to the first place of the single ones becoming 14esimo the 45 turns sold in 1984 and depopulates in England. In the years the Eighty singer and from Tuscany musician carry out un' cross-sectional activity, spacing from discs in English (Features of Love, Flashes of Life, Let me in) to the sonorous columns for the cinema and to composed musics for the tv.

Between 1989 and 1996 are to London where it works with Richard Darbyshire, leader of the Living in the Box and author between the others of Lisa Stanfield. Till to arrive to the years ' 90, when it decides to expose itself also to the Italian language, taking advantage itself dell' aid of Mogol and Paschal Briquette (than in the ' 94 company Beautifulst eyes sluices).

The popolarità is in constant increase in native land and all' foreign country and in 1999 is the time of All Rooms With View, that it sees to more rinascere its hit loved in new dresses musical.

The pause in study like Mike hard Francis till 2007, when l' artist da' to the Inspired press, than between cover (between which unknown Someone like You di Van Morrison) and pieces, he represents the return on the scene after a dedicated artistic parenthesis, during the end of years Ninety, to the plan Mystic Diversions, of great tendency and succeeding between the lovers of music lounge and ambient, Buddha style Bar. Schivo and far away from the mediatico clamour,

Mike Francis was defined “random, an accidental one, or in the music that in the life. And it is from all this that it happens to me around I draw inspiration for my music”.

Who it asked to it if it were interested to participate to reality show like former colleagues of dance the years ' 80 like Den Harrow and Sandy Marton, answered: “Not, for charity. Me I do not see to us in that type of program.

They are a musician and I want to only make music. I thus love little to appear that with the Mystic I have held hidden even my name”. Before Been born them, it had released un' interview to the Miticultnews site, in which it declared that " beautiful music dance begins to half of years 70 and ends in the 1980". "

After much has expired, but since in that period it was amused to us very and it was breathed un' air of general well-being, second me - law on the site - people still listens to years more 80 for the memories that they evoke that for the artistic value of the songs. The funerals of the singer will be carried out in closely private form.

May he rest in peace. His music made me happy all the time. It did not matter what time of the day, month or year it is, but his music is right for any time all the time.

I made a medley of his music a few months back and posted here in my blog, see below:

To fans of Mike Francis and The famous "Manila Sounds" music, this is probably the best Mike Francis compilation you will find and some of the songs are not available on any commercially released cd. Mixed on the fly by yours truly. 100 Pure Classic Vinyl.

Stereo DBX Encoded, 192 kbps, 96.3 mb, 1:10:07
Genre: Chill Out, Slow Jams
1.Dusty Road
2.On And On
3.Body Thrill (Extended Version)
4.Don't Star Givin' Up (Extended Version)
5.Livin' It Up W/Bros 2 (Remixed Version)
6.Let Me In (Dave Pineda Remix)
7.Friends W/Amii Stewart (Dave Pineda Remix)
8.Lovely Day (Extended Version)
9.Features Of Love (Extended Version)
10.Dreams Of A Lifetime (Extended Version)
11.Together Again W/Amii Stewart (Remixed Version)
12.Suddenly Back To Me (Extended Version)
13.Survivor (Dave Pineda Recombination Mix)
14.Times Out Of Time (Extended Version)
15.Night Time Lady (Extended Version)

To Listen or DL:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/5790195168fdf420/

I will make another medley and dedicate it in memory of Francesco "Mike Francis' Puccioni , this time it will be my best work.

Dave