Francesca Beghe
Beghe performing in 2020
Born
New York City, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Chicago
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • musician (piano, keyboards, wurlitzer)
Years active1980–present
Spouse
​
(m. 1997)​
Relatives
Musical career
Genres
Labels
Websitefrancescabeghe.com

Francesca Beghe is an American singer-songwriter from New York, best known for co-writing "Trust in Me", recorded by Joe Cocker and Sass Jordan,[1][2] which was featured in the 1992 film, The Bodyguard and on the Grammy award-winning The Bodyguard (soundtrack)[3] which certified 18× platinum[4] and peaked at No. 1 on Billboard in 1992.[5] Beghe has appeared on The Tonight Show, was featured as VH-1's Artist of the Month,[6] and toured the US as the opening act for Michael Bolton.[7][8]

Music career

Beghe began performing at clubs in New York City and joined the band Rogue, in 1980, as their lead vocalist and keyboard player.[9] They opened shows for musical acts such as Jerry Garcia and Muddy Waters performing at The Bitter End, The Bottom Line, The Ritz, and The Limelight, among others.[10] In addition to performing live, she recorded jingles for the New York Lottery and Kodak commercials.[11]

In 1987, Beghe co-wrote "Trust in Me" with Marc Swersky and Charlie Midnight. She was signed to a publishing deal with EMI Blackwood Publishing which led to a record deal with SBK Records, at the end of 1990.[12][13][14] Musician magazine described the album as "the kind of stunning, poised debut they don't make anymore" while People Magazine called Francesca Beghe "a musical gourmet…" describing her music as "...a little Rock, Jazz, Soul, Gospel, Country and her informed respect for all those genres is evident".[15]CD Review referred to Beghe as "a brilliant new star".[16]

In August 1991, she was featured as VH-1's Artist of the Month[6] and in November 1991 Beghe toured the US as the opening act for Michael Bolton.[7]

Beghe released two albums, Francesca Beghe (1991) and Dreamworld (2006) and her songs have been recorded by recording artists Kimberly Scott,[17] Irma Thomas (No Use Talkin' was in the film, Double Jeopardy),[18] and Fernando Saunders,[19] among others.

Names on a Wall (written and performed by Beghe), about the Vietnam War Memorial Wall in Washington D.C., was featured in an anti-war video produced by the group Veterans for Peace.[20]

While Beghe was working on her second album (produced by Glen Ballard), her record label SBK became EMI and subsequently the album was never released.[21] In 2006 she released Dreamworld,[22] which she described as "a 2½ year labor of love. I was fortunate to work with an amazing group of musicians and technicians to hone and polish every song until it felt just right."[23]

"Trust in Me", (co-written by Beghe, Charlie Midnight, and Marc Swersky), was originally recorded as a duet by Joe Cocker and Renee Geyer on his album, Unchain My Heart in 1987. However, "Trust in Me" was selected for The Bodyguard Soundtrack of the 1991 film, The Bodyguard, as one of the songs on the album as Kevin Costner, its star, was a Joe Cocker die-hard fan. It was then recorded as a duet featuring (Cocker and Sass Jordan). The Soundtrack album became the best-selling of all time with sales of 45 million copies worldwide,[24] and the 15th best-selling album in the United States.[25] It peaked at No. 1 on Billboard in 1992.[5] The soundtrack went on to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year[26] and, in November 2017, was certified 18×platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[27]

Discography

Year Album Song Artist Credit
1987 Unchain My Heart "Trust in Me" Joe Cocker/Renee Geyer Songwriter
1991 Francesca Beghe Francesca Beghe Songwriter, performer
1992 The Bodyguard Soundtrack/The Bodyguard (film) "Trust in Me" Joe Cocker/Sass Jordan Songwriter
1993 Spin Come a Little Closer Fernando Saunders Songwriter
Spin The Fire Keeps Burning Fernando Saunders Songwriter
1997 The Story of My Life No Use Talkin' Irma Thomas Songwriter
1998 Kimberly Scott Let Your Spirit Fly Kimberly Scott Songwriter
2006 Dreamworld Francesca Beghe Songwriter, performer

Early life

Beghe was born to parents, Renato and Bina (née House) Beghe[28] in Manhattan, New York. Her father, Renato, was a Judge who had served on the Tax Court since his appointment by President George H. W. Bush, on March 26, 1991.[29] Beghe studied classical piano and sang in a church choir as a child, citing musical influences as Carole King, Yes, and Elton John. She attended the University of Chicago.[30]

Family

Beghe's great-grandfather was Charles S. Deneen, a two-term governor of Illinois and one-term U.S. Senator in the late 1920s.[31] Actor Jason Beghe,[13] who portrays Hank Voight in the NBC TV series Chicago P.D., is her brother.[31]

References

  1. ↑ "The Bodyguard Original Soundtrack Album". Discogs. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Trust in Me songwriters – recorded by Joe Cocker and Sass Jordan". Soundhound. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Deep 10: Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard — Original Soundtrack Album". Grammys. May 15, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Whitney Houston Becomes the First Black Artist With Three Diamond Albums By Gil Kaufman". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Billboard soundtrack chart history". Billboard. October 28, 2020. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Newman, Melinda (June 15, 1991). "The Eye" (PDF). Billboard. p. 54. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  7. 1 2 Mayfield, Geoff (November 30, 1991). "Popular Uprisings" (PDF). Billboard. p. 90. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  8. ↑ Mayfield, Geoff (October 26, 1991). "Popular Uprisings" (PDF). Billboard. p. 95. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  9. ↑ Chris Barry, "Fresh Music Hits Shore," The Sunday Register, August 4, 1985
  10. ↑ "Music You've Never Heard...'til Now". Rare and Obscure Music. May 2, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  11. ↑ Robert Santelli, "Vocalist Gives Stigalators Special Sound," Ashbury Park Press, August 22, 1985
  12. ↑ Michael Miller, "Francesca has Talent, Tenacity To Get To The Top" The State, January 24, 1992
  13. 1 2 Italie, Hillel (Associated Press) (September 7, 1991). "'Tough' New Yorker On Cusp Of Success". Times Union. p. D4.
  14. ↑ Lichtman, Irv (April 20, 1991). "Inside Track" (PDF). Billboard. p. 82. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  15. ↑ "Francesca Beghe Brings Her All-Star Band to The Hudson Room by Bruce Apar". Patch. July 18, 2009. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  16. ↑ CD Review. Vol. 8. WGE Pub. 1992. p. 8.
  17. ↑ "Kimberly Scott". Second Hand Songs. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Irma Thomas – The Story of My Life". Discogs. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  19. ↑ "The Spin – Fernando Saunders". All DBX Music. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  20. ↑ Leonard Pitts, "Leonard Pitts: The victims of this war don’t get a wall Commentary," Miami Herald, March 29, 2021
  21. ↑ "Dreamworld". Ranger Book. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Dreamworld: Francesca Beghe". Apple Music.
  23. ↑ "Francesca Beghe – Dreamworld".
  24. ↑ Kimberly, Nordyke (October 30, 2017). "American Music Awards: Christina Aguilera to Honor Whitney Houston With 'Bodyguard' Tribute". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 3, 2019. Patrick, Ryan (November 9, 2017). "Exclusive: Whitney Houston's 'Bodyguard' turns 25 with never-before-seen performance". USA Today. Retrieved January 3, 2019. Chuck, Crisafulli (May 15, 2017). "Deep 10: Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard — Original Soundtrack Album". Grammy. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  25. ↑ "Top 100 Albums". RIAA. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  26. ↑ "This Is How The Biggest Movie Soundtrack Of All Time Got Made". BuzzFeed News. November 21, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Recording Industry Association of America: Diamond Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Obituary for Bina House Beghe". Memorials Interfaith Funerals. March 24, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  29. ↑ "In Memory of Judge Renato Beghe" (PDF). US Tax Court. July 12, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Back From Her Break". The Highlands Current. March 17, 2019. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  31. 1 2 Wagner, Curt (January 8, 2014). "Chicago P.D. cast members feel at home'". Redeye.
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