The Journey

 Unsung Dean E. Francis, born December 21st, 1951 - July 11th, 2012, was one of Columbus, Oh's brightest musical lights. The oldest of two sisters and one brother, Dean's father, John L. Francis, was the city's first African-American City Attorney. Francis studied drums and piano as a kid but initially favored the drums; he  graduated from Columbus East High in 1969, where he served as the Head  Drummer of their Tiger Marching Band. His musical influences include Billy Preston, Ramsey Lewis, Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, and Junie Morrison, the innovative and underrated Dayton, OH native who played with the Ohio Players and recorded some solo albums.                  

 A young, motivated teacher based in central Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Capital University in 2014, and his Master of Music in Music Education from Boston University in 2017. He received a second Master of Music in Music Theory-Composition from Stephen F. Austin State in  2020. He is currently the high school band director at Circleville High  School where he teaches concert band, jazz band, and marching band. Apart of my adoption journey soundtrack.