Gar Francis Gets His Due

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Gar Francis by Sapphire Star

Gar Francis Songbook Volume #2 (Bongo Boy Records), by Sapphire Star (who doesn’t really exist), hits streaming platforms TODAY. The 12 Gar originals includes one he wrote for his band, The Doughboys, in 2010 (“Turn Your Love On Me”).  Producer Monique Grimme says, “this album is a gem. These songs are fun, kick-butt, high-energy R’n’B with a punch of Garage Rock and just enough Pop woven into the fabric…What were once rough demos have become as organic as music can be…Sitting in the studio, you could literally hear these incredible songs come to life. Some of them made me cry. When you pour your heart and soul into music, you can’t stop the mascara from making you look like a raccoon.”

Gar Francis is the composer-guitarist-arranger who also happens to be the co-founder of Bongo Boy Records in Blairstown (Warren County). Born and raised in Plainfield, he has partnered with Monique Grimme, the Dutch producer-composer, since Bongo Boy’s inception. 

Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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