Stewart Francke

Since making that first record in 1995, Where The River Meets The Bay, Stewart Francke has made nine more, capped by the breakthrough blue eyed soul CD, Motor City Serenade, released initially in England in 2005 by Zane Records.

He’s built a reputation as a warm and exciting live performer, playing his own headlining shows as well as support with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Warren Zevon, Steve Earle, Chris Isaak, Robert Cray, Hall & Oates, Michael McDonald, Stevie Winwood, Eddie Money, Chicago, & many others. Yet he feels he's still in the beginnings of his artistic journey. Most importantly, there is a magical and firm connection between Stewart and his audience.

In the midst of this success came the dark night of the soul. In 1998 Stewart was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. It was a serious interruption to an artist's career, but more importantly to a man, to a father and a husband. His sister was found to be a perfect bone marrow match and he underwent a stem cell transplant in the fall of '98. Terrific doctors and nurses at Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit contributed to saving his life. He wanted desperately to live to see his children grow. He fought to stay alive; he fought hard. He got a lot of help. He went through 5 years of hell. He's still here.

After regaining enough strength to play some gigs, Stewart began writing and recording again. A Leukemia Foundation was formed in his name. Nearly $150,000 has been raised by the Stewart Francke Leukemia Foundation and donated to groups such as Gilda's Club, the Children's Leukemia Foundation, Leukemia & Life Research and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Stewart actively continues these cancer activities today. In 2002 he was recognized as one of the Points of Light by the P.O.L Foundation and was named Volunteer of the Year by the National Marrow Donor Program.

He's been recognized by his peers in his community through numerous Detroit Music Awards, including Best Artist, Songwriter & Album. Hour Detroit readers voted him most popular musician 2002-2004. The Stewart Francke Leukemia Foundation was also presented the prestigious Partnership In Humanity Award by the Detroit Newspapers, and he was awarded a Creative Artist Grant by Artserve Michigan.

In September of 2003, Stewart came full circle with his musical loves and lifetime heroes. He recorded three songs with all six remaining Funk Brothers, the legendary group that cut all of the superb Motown hits in the 60s & 70s. A single from that session, titled “Motor CIty Serenade” was released in 2004, leading to his record deal with Peter Thompson and Zane Records.

His latest CD, Alive and Unplugged, was recorded at the Ark in Ann Arbor.