A Raploch country singer is following in the footsteps of some of the icons of the industry by being featured in Nashville’s famous Broadway.
Former Wallace High pupil Francesca Gray has been busy making her music dreams a reality, releasing her second single ‘Hear Me’ last year, co-written alongside Clackmannanshire musician Les Key.
Francesca and Les had collaborated on first single ‘Echoes That Remain’ – which was put together after Francesca was snapped up by her previous Nashville record label.
The pair have now connected with Grammy Award nominated Nashville based promoter Alan Shacklock, who has worked with artists including Bonnie Tyler, Meat Loaf and Roger Daltrey on a covers album before Christmas, with further projects to come.
The 44-year-old has now been featured on the famous ‘Nashville Sign’ on Music Row, putting eyes on her work in the same legendary city which has hosted some of the top names of country music down the years.
Francesca, who now lives in Clackmannan, said: “I knew I was going to be on the billboard for a wee while and when I got the photo through to me, I was just absolutely buzzing with it.
“I’m just a wee girl from the Raploch who grew up in Stirling who is now appearing on one of the most famous billboards in the world and it will hopefully give myself and the track a lot of exposure.
“Hear Me got to 16 in the Nashville charts and it just feels incredible to have chart success there because it is really hard – especially for someone from Scotland – to break that city.
“There are lots of exciting things planned with Alan and my co-writer Les and I feel as if my music is really going from strength to strength, the most positive thing is that the original material written with Les appears to be going down well.”
Francesca is now hard at work towards another single release and an EP/album – after her debut covers album ‘Symphonize’ also pulled up well Stateside.
The country talent has already made one trip to Tennessee – and is hoping to make a return trip next year to link up with Alan and do some more publicity work.
Francesca continued: “Alan had wanted me to do a covers album to show the industry my adaptability as a vocalist and that’s why we released my first album ‘Symphonize’ last year.
“The first time I went over there, I did the usual touring about and spent time with the record label but they were wanting to take me in a direction I didn’t feel like going down.
“I didn’t want to be labelled, because I love writing ballads, love songs, different types of track and that’s actually what my upcoming single will be – a beautiful ballad.”