From: "Dik de Heer" Date: Sat Dec 21, 2002 7:12 am Subject: Born To Be With You : Panama Francis PANAMA FRANCIS Born David Albert Francis, 21 December 1918, Miami, Florida Died 13 November 2001, Orlando, Florida Drummer. Panama Francis has had a long and versatile career, equally at home in jazz, swing and R&R/R&B sessions. Playing for church revival meetings were among his earliest gigs and he also gigged with George Kelly's group, the Cavaliers, in Florida (1934-1938) before moving to New York. The following year he worked with Roy Eldridge (making his recording debut) and this was followed by a long period at the Savoy with the Lucky Millinder Big Band (1940-1946) and an association with Cab Calloway (1947-1952). Francis then became a busy studio drummer, performing anonymously on many pop and rock & roll records. In fact, he was one of the first jazz drummers to become involved with rock 'n' roll. A very selective list of well-known records that he plays on: Bill Haley, Shake, Rattle and Roll / ABC boogie (2nd Decca session, 1954) LaVern Baker, Jim Dandy, Voodoo Voodoo Screamin' Jay Hawkins, I Put A Spell On You Little Willie John, Talk To Me, Talk To Me Ray Charles, Hallelujah, I Love Her So Chuck Willis, C.C. Rider Big Joe Turner, Lipstick, Powder and Paint, Teenage Letter Mickey and Sylvia, Love Is Strange Dinah Washington, What A Difference A Day Made Bobby Darin, Splish Splash, Queen Of The Hop James Brown, Try Me Connie Francis, Lipstick On Your Collar The Coasters, Run Red Run, Wake Me Shake Me Buddy Holly, Early In The Morning, Peggy Sue Got Married Solomon Burke, Down In The Valley. (With thanks to Dave Penny) More info: http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Panama%20Francis.html CD : All Stars 1949 (Collectables). Gotham recordings.