Richard Francisco, 72, from Bloomington, Illinois passed away peacefully on April 12 at his home in Los Angeles, California. He is now playing with the Francisco family band in Heaven today. He was born August 16, 1948 on Normal, Ill at Brokaw Hospital.

Rick is survived by one brother, Michael (Nancy) Francisco (Normal, Il.), one nephew, Anthony (Amy) Francisco, one aunt, Rose Francisco (Carlock, Il.) and many, many cousins. Also surviving is his best friend Marsha Nari (Los Angeles, California) and her family who thought the world of Rick and him of them. Rick had many friends in Bloomington including his close friends Barry Conder and Don Shields who he knew for over 65-70 years of his life. I know I’ve missed many names.

Preceding Rick in death are his parents, Harold and Lois Francisco, his grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Rick was a graduate of Washington Grade School, Bloomington Junior High School, Bloomington High School, Class of 1966 and received his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration/Computer Science and a minor in Music from Illinois State University. Rick worked in many areas of music from Songwriting to Music Publishing to Artist Management.         

Rick worked with many music greats in his lifetime and had many, many friends in the music business across the nation. He worked with Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Mighty Joe Young in Chicago, friends with Mel Tillis and others in Nashville, worked with ZZ Top in Austin Texas, produced, engineered and managed a great CD, Becca (on CD Baby), in L.A., and was good friends with Freddie Piro (owner of Oceans Studios in L.A), Delany Bramlett, Bill Hall, Corky Siegel, Chad Watson, Harlan Spector, Ron Stockert and Denny Belfield with Rufus (Denny was also with Three Dog Night), Jim Peterik from The Ides Of March/Survivor, his good friend Dean Kay (board member of ASCAP and writer of the Frank Sinatra song  ‘That’s Life’), and many others that knew Rick so well.

Rick went on the U.S. Summer tour with Eric Clapton/Muddy Waters, drank a beer with Eric under the tree at Muddy’s backyard cookouts and even went with Muddy when Muddy wanted to buy a new Lincoln. Muddy thought the world of Rick. Rick sat in one night at the last minute with Muddy’s band for an ailing band member.

Rick also co-engineered/produced the album with Mighty Joe Young, ‘Mighty Joe Young Live At Wise Fools’ in Chicago (Still available on Amazon and other sites), not to mention his hometown experiences with The ViCounts, The Shattertones, Wolf, Maximus, Escalita And Her Skating Chickens (loved this band), Band X and the great Mackinaw Valley Boys. Rick also was in the center of all of those Francisco family reunions and gatherings where the family would get together and play music all day long. Rick had very rewarding life experiences in music that money just can’t buy. 

Rick was the best brother, grandpa, uncle, nephew and friend anyone could ask for, and will be missed greatly by his family and friends. He was one of a kind.